Aldoro Resources has confirmed a major mineralisation extension at its Kameelburg deposit in Namibia, with drill hole DD004E intersecting 387.2 meters of continuous rare earth elements, strontium, niobium, and molybdenum. The Phase II drilling program is complete, setting the stage for bulk sampling.
- 387.2m continuous mineralisation in drill hole DD004E
- Average grades: 0.96% TREO, 3.22% SrCO3, 0.19% Nb2O5, 101ppm Mo
- Phase II drilling completed with 15 holes totaling 7,190m
- Mineralisation remains open at depth with further assays pending
- Smart 8 rig to begin bulk sampling in coming weeks
Significant 387m Mineralisation Intercept at Kameelburg
Aldoro Resources (ASX:ARN) has delivered another substantial boost to its Kameelburg Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Niobium project in Namibia, with diamond drill hole DD004E intersecting 387.2 meters of continuous mineralisation. This latest intercept confirms the scale and richness of the deposit, featuring an average grade of 0.96% total rare earth oxides (TREO), 3.22% strontium carbonate (SrCO3), 0.19% niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), and 101 parts per million molybdenum (Mo) across the entire length.
The mineralisation in DD004E starts at surface and includes high-grade shallow zones such as 36 meters at 2.51% TREO and 7.04% SrCO3 from surface, and 53 meters at 1.99% TREO from 58 meters depth. The hole ended in mineralisation, which remains open at depth, highlighting the potential for further resource expansion.
Phase II Drilling Wraps Up With Bulk Sampling Next
The Phase II drilling campaign at Kameelburg has now concluded, comprising 15 diamond drill holes totaling 7,190 meters. This program has been crucial in defining the deposit’s footprint, which currently extends 1.5 kilometers long by 650 meters wide and 600 meters deep. Assays from several holes remain pending, including important step-out holes to the southeast.
Following the drilling, Aldoro plans to deploy its Smart 8 drill rig to commence bulk sampling across the carbonatite system. This phase aims to provide material for metallurgical testing and help refine the understanding of mineral processing characteristics, a critical step toward resource development.
Robust Sampling and Analytical Standards
The drilling and sampling followed industry best practices and the Australasian JORC Code standards. Diamond core was logged in detail, cut in half for sampling at one-meter intervals, and analysed by accredited laboratories in Namibia and Australia. A rigorous quality assurance and quality control program was implemented, including certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicate samples, ensuring confidence in the assay results.
The mineralisation is associated with magnetite-rich zones in the Beforsite carbonatite, with the rare earth mineral Ancylite identified as dominant. The deposit’s geological setting mirrors other significant carbonate-hosted REE and niobium systems globally.
Building on a Series of Expanding Intercepts
This announcement follows recent results from Aldoro’s Kameelburg project, including the 537-meter continuous mineralisation in drill hole DD005G earlier this month, confirming extensive REE-strontium-niobium mineralisation across the carbonatite system. The cumulative drilling results, including a 603-meter intercept in DD005E and a 525-meter high-grade boost in DD005F, are steadily expanding the known mineralised footprint and grade profile of the project 537 metres of continuous mineralisation.
With mineralisation remaining open at depth and assays from southeast step-out holes pending, Aldoro is well-positioned to enhance its maiden resource estimate and advance development plans.
Bottom Line?
The completion of Phase II drilling and commencement of bulk sampling at Kameelburg mark critical milestones, but the true scale and economic viability of the deposit hinge on upcoming assay results and metallurgical studies.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assay results from southeast step-out holes impact the overall resource size and confidence?
- What metallurgical characteristics will bulk sampling reveal about processing rare earths and niobium from the carbonatite?
- How might global supply dynamics for strontium and niobium influence the project’s commercial prospects?