Aldoro Resources has revealed a major extension of mineralisation at its Kameelburg project, including a newly identified strontium-rich layer amid soaring global prices. This discovery could reshape the critical minerals landscape.
- 603 meters of continuous mineralisation confirmed in drill hole DD005E
- 200-meter westerly and 100+ meter depth extensions at Kameelburg
- Discovery of a high-grade strontium carbonate layer alongside rare earths and niobium
- Strontium carbonate prices doubled due to geopolitical supply disruptions
- Phase II drilling ongoing with updated resource estimate expected May 2026
Significant Mineralisation Expansion at Kameelburg
Aldoro Resources Ltd (ASX:ARN) has announced a breakthrough in its Phase II drilling program at the Kameelburg Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Niobium project in Namibia. The first drill hole of this phase, DD005E, intersected an impressive 603 meters of continuous mineralisation, extending the known deposit by approximately 200 meters to the west and more than 100 meters deeper than previously recorded.
This substantial extension not only confirms the scale of the Kameelburg carbonatite-hosted deposit but also reveals a previously unknown mineralisation layer rich in strontium carbonate (SrCO3), alongside rare earth elements and niobium. The discovery of this strontium-rich zone adds a new dimension to the project’s strategic value.
Strontium: A Critical Mineral in the Spotlight
Strontium carbonate has surged in importance due to its critical role in manufacturing permanent ferrite magnets, which power electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and various consumer electronics. Prices for strontium carbonate have doubled from around US$1,200 to US$2,400 per tonne in Europe between late 2024 and mid-2025, driven by severe supply disruptions linked to the Iran-U.S. conflict and damage to Iran’s primary export infrastructure.
With Iran controlling 85% of global celestite reserves and China sourcing the majority of its strontium feedstock from Iran, the market faces a structural deficit with limited alternatives. The European Union has formally designated strontium as a Critical Raw Material, and the United States remains entirely import-dependent, underscoring the strategic importance of new, stable sources like Kameelburg.
Robust Assay Results and Ongoing Drilling
The DD005E drill hole returned notable shallow intercepts, including 10 meters at 2.40% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 6.86% SrCO3 from surface, with consistent grades throughout the 603-meter core. The strong correlation (0.92) between TREO and SrCO3 suggests that hydrometallurgical processing costs could be reduced by the presence of multiple saleable products.
Aldoro’s Phase II program has completed 14 holes totaling 6,495 meters this quarter, with assays from additional holes expected throughout April. The company plans to release an updated Mineral Resource Estimate in May 2026, which will incorporate these new results and potentially redefine the project’s economic outlook.
Strategic Implications for Critical Minerals Supply
The Kameelburg project’s expanding footprint; now confirmed at 1.5 km long by 650 meters wide and 600 meters deep; positions Aldoro as a potential key supplier of rare earths, niobium, and increasingly critical strontium. Given the geopolitical risks and supply constraints affecting global strontium markets, Aldoro’s discovery could attract significant interest from downstream industries reliant on ferrite magnets and other strontium-dependent technologies.
While the true widths of mineralisation remain to be established and further assays are pending, the current data highlight Kameelburg’s growing strategic importance amid a tightening global critical minerals landscape.
Bottom Line?
As Aldoro advances its drilling and resource updates, Kameelburg’s newfound strontium riches could redefine its role in global critical minerals supply chains.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the updated Mineral Resource Estimate in May impact Aldoro’s valuation and project economics?
- What are the potential challenges in extracting and processing the newly discovered strontium-rich layer?
- Could geopolitical tensions further accelerate demand for non-Iranian strontium sources like Kameelburg?