Pensana Rare Earths Plc (LSE: PRE, ASX: PM8) has reported results from a further 34 holes of the 8 000-m drill programme completed at the Longonjo NdPr Project in Angola.
COO Dave Hammond; geologist Benedito Madeleno; and site manager Gavin Doyle.
The programme is in support of the Bankable Feasibility Study work programmes based on the weathered zone mineralisation at Longonjo. New results confirm particularly high-grade intersections from surface in the area of proposed first mining.
Initial mine plan: Infill drilling has confirmed +6% rare earth oxide (REO) in the surface weathered zone mineralisation. This area of mineralisation remains open to the north and east. The Company expects to upgrade the mineral resource to Measured in this area for inclusion in the BFS.
Fresh rock mineralisation: the first systematic drill testing of the potential immediately below the weathered zone mineralisation has returned wide intersections of 2,5% to 3% REO. These grades are very encouraging and add a second dimension to the Longonjo Project beyond the initial mine life. The mineralisation remains opens below the 80 m drill depth.
Southern margin: drilling has identified zones of high grade weathered zone mineralisation from surface that is expected to increase average grades in this area of the proposed open pit.
Executive director & COO Dave Hammond comments: “These latest intersections from surface prove the continuity of the high grade weathered mineralisation in the area that will be the focus of mining in the early years. We expect these infill drilling results will allow us to upgrade the current Indicated mineral resource to Measured.
“The thick mineralised intersections returned from the fresh rock beneath the weathered zone, many of which remain open with depth, are very encouraging and support the potential to expand the project further on the successful completion of metallurgical testwork.
“We look forward to reporting the results from the remaining 86 holes and 3,457 m of drilling and the revised Mineral Resource estimate which is on track for completion before the end of September.”
