AuKing Reports 1.51% TREO at Tundulu with High HREE Enrichment

AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) has released the first assay results from its Tundulu rare earths project in Malawi, confirming high-grade mineralisation within carbonatite host rocks. The data validates the company's earlier geological claims and provides concrete grade figures for the initial exploration targets.

The results indicate consistent total rare earth oxide (TREO) grades across multiple drill holes, with specific intervals reaching up to 4.33% TREO. A key differentiator is the significant enrichment in heavy rare earth elements (HREE) and yttrium, a composition that management states distinguishes Tundulu from typical light-rare-earth carbonatite deposits.

Initial Assays Confirm High Grades

AuKing reported 91 metres at 1.51% TREO from a depth of 40 metres, which includes 43 metres at 2.0% and 15 metres at 3.4% TREO. Another hole yielded 80 metres at 1.54% TREO from the surface, containing 30 metres at 2.0% and 11 metres at 4.33% TREO from just 2 metres down. These figures provide the economic baseline for the project's potential.

Managing Director Paul Williams stated that the wide intervals of high-grade mineralisation place the company in a strong position for subsequent assay reporting. The visual confirmation of carbonatites was previously noted, but these chemical assays are required to establish the commercial viability of the mineralisation.

Heavy Rare Earth Enrichment Identified

Exploration Manager Ian McBride highlighted an unusual concentration of heavy rare earths and yttrium. The assays included 8 metres at 16.09% HREE+Y/TREO from 68 metres and 7 metres at 12.75% HREE+Y/TREO from 80 metres. This composition deviates from standard carbonatite systems, which are typically dominated by light rare earths.

McBride explained that as TREO grades increase to the 0.5-1% range, the proportion of yttrium and heavy rare earths persists. At grades above 1% TREO, the median yttrium content is approximately 400 ppm, with the upper decile reaching 0.1% yttrium. This dual-flavour mineralisation, comprising apatite-HREE and dolomite-LREE components, is a primary technical focus for the company.

Deep Drilling and Sample Logistics

AuKing is awaiting results for two deep diamond drill holes that intersected carbonatites to their full depths of 510.6 metres and 400.4 metres. Based on the visual lithology in these holes, the board has approved a new drill targeting approximately 1,000 metres, explicitly citing the market response to similar deep drilling at Lindian Resources' Kangankunde project as a strategic benchmark.

Thousands of samples remain in various stages of processing. Due to infrastructure limitations in Malawi, samples must cross multiple borders to reach laboratories in Perth, Western Australia. The company is working to optimize this cross-border logistics chain to ensure timely release of the remaining assay data.