Kendrick Resources has reported another round of high-grade rare earth drilling results from its Teufelskuppe project in Namibia, with the latest programme returning grades of up to 4.04% light rare earth oxide (LREO) and broad mineralised intersections that continue to strengthen the geological continuity of the carbonatite-hosted system as the company advances towards a maiden mineral resource estimate.
The standout results came from drill hole TKDD010, which intersected 2.50% LREO over 26 metres from 70 metres and 3.15% LREO over 15 metres from 101 metres.
The same hole also encountered shallower high-grade mineralisation, returning 3.50% LREO over four metres from 14.5 metres, 3.45% LREO over five metres from 32.25 metres and 2.65% LREO over 7.25 metres from 44.75 metres, demonstrating that high-grade mineralisation persists from near surface through much of the drilled sequence.
Drill hole TKDD009 delivered the highest grade reported in the latest programme, intersecting 3.25% LREO over 17 metres from 27.75 metres, including an internal high-grade interval of 4.04% LREO over 9.5 metres from 35.25 metres.
Although drilling rods became lodged in the hole, forcing the company to redrill from the same collar using a wedge, the second intercept confirmed the continuity of the mineralised zone by returning 2.39% LREO over 15.25 metres, including narrower sections grading 3.31% LREO over two metres and 3.05% LREO over 3.75 metres.
The remaining holes also continued to confirm widespread shallow mineralisation across the Teufelskuppe carbonatite complex. TKDD007 intersected 1.52% LREO over 32.75 metres from surface, representing one of the broadest near-surface intersections reported from the project to date, while TKDD008 returned 1.60% LREO over 1.75 metres from three metres and 2.02% LREO over 1.5 metres from 10.25 metres.
Taken together, the latest four drill holes produced multiple intersections above 3% LREO, including the highest grade of 4.04% LREO over 9.5 metres, while also confirming broad mineralised intervals such as 2.50% LREO over 26 metres, 3.25% LREO over 17 metres, 3.15% LREO over 15 metres and 1.52% LREO over 32.75 metres from surface.
Kendrick said these results reinforce the continuity of mineralisation across the eight dykes and sills that comprise the Teufelskuppe carbonatite complex, where grades typically range between 2.5% and 3.5% LREO over extensive areas.
Chairman Colin Bird said continuity of mineralisation over substantial widths remained one of the defining characteristics of the project.
“Continuity of mineralisation over impressive mineralised widths and associated excellent grades remains a key feature of the TK carbonatite complex. We will continue drilling with three rigs with the aim of generating sufficient data to produce a mineral resource estimate for TK in the shortest possible timeframe.”
Bird said reverse-circulation drilling was rapidly defining the width and extent of individual mineralised dykes and sills, while two diamond drill rigs were providing the geological information required to build the maiden resource estimate and to improve the company’s understanding of the mineralising system.
