Askari Metals is preparing to commence reverse-circulation drilling at its DP Pegmatite Target in Namibia’s Uis district in the second quarter of 2026, following Phase 1 trenching that delivered peak assays of 3,360 ppm tin,1.25%lithium oxide,364ppm tantalum,3,370ppm rubidium and 587 ppm caesium across a pegmatite system extending about 700 metres along strike with an average surface thickness of roughly six metres.
The upcoming drilling program is designed to test the true subsurface geometry, width, and grade continuity of the DP pegmatite, following systematic trenching at 40-metre spacing that confirmed broad polymetallic mineralisation along the full length of the exposed body.
Askari says the trench results materially strengthen confidence in the scale and quality of the system and provide a solid technical basis for drill targeting.
DP forms part of Askari’s 100%-owned Uis Project on EPL 7345, which lies contiguous to the south-western boundary of the operating Andrada Mining’s Uis Tin Mine.
The neighbouring mine hosts a JORC （2012） mineral resource estimate of 77.51 million tonnes grading 0.79% Li₂O,0.15%Sn and 82 ppm Ta, placing Askari’s licence within a proven tin-lithium-tantalum corridor.
The Phase 1 trenching campaign across EPL 7345 comprised 135 trenches totalling 7,269 metres and generated 2,098 one-metre channel samples.
At DP alone, 39 trenches covering 749 metres yielded 325 one-metre samples for laboratory analysis.
The work systematically tested the main pegmatite and associated satellite bodies, crossing their full widths to assess how mineralisation is distributed both across and along strike.
Tin results underscore the continuity of mineralisation along the approximately 700-metre DP pegmatite. Significant intercepts include 13.10 metres at 930 ppm Sn, 8.32 metres at 838 ppm Sn, 5.22 metres at 1,293 ppm Sn, 3.10 metres at 808 ppm Sn, 2 metres at 1,070 ppm Sn and shorter high-grade intervals such as 1 metre at 1,300 ppm Sn and 0.70 metres at 1,300 ppm Sn.
Askari indicated that tin accounts for about 14% of the total metal content in the trench dataset, a figure it considers directly comparable to the tin values incorporated in the neighbouring Uis resource block model.
Multiple trenches returned broad lithium intercepts, including 13.45 metres at 0.36% Li₂O, 10.76 metres at 0.37% Li₂O, 9.29 metres at 0.61% Li₂O, including 1.85 metres at 1.20% Li₂O and 3.10 metres at 0.72% Li₂O, and 8.33 metres at 0.26% Li₂O, including 1 metre at 0.45% Li₂O.
A significant portion of the main pegmatite averages between 0.25% and 0.50% Li₂O. The company noted that many samples were collected in semi-oxidised material, suggesting that drilling into fresh rock could yield higher lithium grades due to reduced leaching.
Tantalum assays ranged from about 80 ppm to 364 ppm Ta in trenching, with notable intercepts such as 13.10 metres at 134 ppm Ta, 6.66 metres at 154 ppm Ta, including 0.50 metres at 364 ppm Ta, and 2 metres at 236 ppm Ta, including 1 metre at 362 ppm Ta.
Askari compared these figures with the 82 ppm average tantalum grade at the neighbouring Uis resource, arguing that higher values within EPL 7345 highlight strong polymetallic potential.
Rubidium returned some of the most striking numbers, with multiple broad intercepts exceeding 1,000 ppm Rb and a peak of 3,370 ppm.
Key intervals include 6.43 metres at 1,762 ppm Rb, including 1 metre at 3,370 ppm Rb, 5.10 metres at 1,734 ppm, including 1.10 metres at 2,620 ppm Rb, 8 metres at 1,455 ppm Rb, including 1 metre at 2,650 ppm, and 4.02 metres at 1,540 ppm Rb.
Caesium results also proved robust, with values up to 587 ppm Cs, including 4.19 metres at 231 ppm Cs, including 1.30 metres at 587 ppm, and 5.80 metres at 206 ppm Cs, including 1 metre at 538 ppm.
The DP trenching builds on earlier exploration across EPL 7345. During 2022 and 2023, Askari completed 114 RC holes totalling 6,384 metres and generated 2,411 samples.
Historic drilling delivered intercepts including 4 metres at 0.16% SnO₂, including 1 metre at 0.26% SnO₂, 4 metres at 314 ppm Ta₂O₅, including 1 metre at 695 ppm Ta₂O₅, and 2 metres at 0.30% Rb₂O, including 1 metre at 0.38% Rb₂O.
Previous rock-chip sampling at DP also returned lithium grades of 1.92% and 1.12% Li₂O.
Additional trench assay results from the OP, PS and K9 targets are pending and expected during February and March 2026, supporting continued exploration momentum as drilling preparations advance.
