AuKing Mining Launches 10,000m Drilling at Tundulu Rare Earths Project
AuKing Mining has kicked off a significant maiden drilling program at its Tundulu Rare Earths Project in Malawi, aiming to expand and validate rare earth mineralisation across multiple targets identified by recent surveys.
- 10,000m RC and diamond drilling underway
- Focus on extensions and depth continuity of rare earths
- New targets identified by airborne magnetics and LiDAR
- Drilling includes step-out, infill, and twin holes
- Samples to be sent for assay to Intertek Perth
Maiden Drilling Program Begins at Tundulu
AuKing Mining Limited (ASX:AKN) has initiated its maiden drilling campaign at the Tundulu Rare Earths Project in southern Malawi, marking a key milestone in its exploration strategy. The company has engaged Thompson Resources, a reputable southern African contractor, to execute a comprehensive 10,000-metre program combining reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling. The RC rig is already on site and drilling has commenced, with a diamond rig expected to arrive later this month.
Targeting Extensions and New Zones
The drilling campaign is designed to test the extensions, structural controls, and vertical continuity of rare earth element (REE) mineralisation within the Tundulu carbonatite complex. This follows a recent airborne magnetics and LiDAR survey that revealed the historical drilling only covered a small fraction of a much larger intrusive system, uncovering multiple new drill-ready targets. At Nathace Hill, the program includes step-out and infill drilling along the southern mineralised corridor, as well as three twin holes to validate historical results and explore mineralisation along strike and at depth.
Drilling Strategy and Technical Approach
The drilling setup involves RC pre-collar holes followed by diamond tails of approximately 300 metres to intersect key geological structures optimally. Additionally, a deep diamond hole of about 500 metres aims to investigate the vertical extent and core architecture of the mineralised system. At Tundulu Hill, angled and vertical fence holes will probe the intrusive geometry and potential high-grade REE zones beneath areas with historically strong rock chip and shallow drilling results. Further RC scout drilling will assess satellite targets exhibiting high-grade surface geochemistry, including historic results surpassing 1% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and locally exceeding 3% TREO.
Next Steps and Assay Plans
AuKing expects the RC drilling phase to progress swiftly, generating sufficient sample material for the initial batch of assays, which will be sent to Intertek’s Perth laboratory in the coming weeks. These results will be crucial to understanding the scale and grade continuity of the Tundulu project and guiding further exploration phases.
This drilling program builds on the company’s recent strategic moves, including a structured earn-in agreement and extensive geophysical surveys that expanded the known footprint of the Tundulu carbonatite complex and identified new targets for testing airborne survey reveals extensive carbonatite system. The mobilisation of the drilling rigs follows a major contract signing with Thompson Resources earlier this year major drilling contract for Tundulu, underscoring AuKing’s commitment to advancing this rare earths asset.
Bottom Line?
The success of this maiden drilling program will be pivotal in defining Tundulu’s rare earth potential, with assay results in the coming weeks set to shape AuKing’s exploration trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the assay results confirm significant extensions to known mineralisation at Tundulu?
- How might the new drill targets identified by geophysics alter the project’s resource potential?
- What are the implications of the drilling outcomes for AuKing’s strategic positioning in the rare earths sector?
