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Excellent Drill Assay Results at Bonya REE project

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Kendrick Resources PLC announced excellent drill assay results from its Bonya REE project in Namibia, with drill hole TWDD001 showing pervasive high-grade Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) mineralization. The hole ended in mineralization at 6.09 wt% TREO, and a notable intercept of 8.14 wt% TREO over 21.16m from 59.5m depth was reported, with grades never dropping below 6.0 wt% TREO. The average TREO and Light Rare Earth Oxide (LREO) grades for all mineralization in TWDD001 were 4.18 wt% and 4.10 wt% respectively, with combined Neodymium and Praseodymium grades of approximately 1%, placing Teufelskuppe among the highest-grade deposits for these critical elements. Average Thorium and Uranium grades were low at 0.019% and 0.000196% respectively, indicating no perceived future penalties.

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Kendrick Resources Plc (LSE: KEN), the mineral exploration and development company, is pleased to announce receipt of rare earth element ("REE") assay results for a drill hole completed by Bonya Exploration Pty Namibia ("Bonya") at the Bonya rare earth project. The hole was drilled on the Teufelskuppe rare earth carbonatite target TK1A and drill core had not been assayed at the time of Kendrick's acquisition.

Assays have significantly exceeded expectations with drill intercepts over notable mineralised widths and at grades that continue to place the Bonya carbonatite complexes at Teufelskuppe and Keishohe amongst the best rare earth projects worldwide, including those in both the exploration phase and operating mines.

Highlights

  • Pervasive high-grade Total Rare Earth Oxide ("TREO") and Light Rare Earth Oxide ("LREO") mineralisation throughout drill hole TWDD001 drilled to a final depth of 80.66m;
  • TWDD001 ends in mineralisation at a grade of 6.09 wt% TREO with expectations that mineralisation continues at depth;
  • Notable intercept of 8.14 w% TREO over 21.16m from 59.5m depth with TREO wt% grades never dropping below 6 .0 wt% and peaking at 10.7 wt% TREO over the 21.16m run;
  • Hole drilled on Teufelskuppe ("TK") carbonatite body TK1A, one of 8 defined mineralised bodies at TK where historic surface channel sampling returned grades ranging from 4.0 to 7.0 wt% TREO
  • 48.66m of mineralisation over an 80.66m drill hole length provides compelling proof of continuity of mineralisation at depth;
  • The average TREO and LREO wt% grades for all mineralisation in TWDD001 reported as 4.18 and 4.10 wt% respectively;
  • The average grade of LREOs Praseodymium and Neodymium, the two most important rare earth elements associated with high intensity magnet manufacture have an average grade of approximately 1% combined (Nd2O3 & Pr6O11) placing Teufelskuppe amongst the highest grade deposits for these two REEs;
  • TREO grades achieved reflect and improve on historic surface results providing further validation of historic data;
  • With historic grab and channel sampling returning high grades on all of the 8 separate bodies at TK, the prospect of defining high-grade sub-surface mineralisation across the entire TK carbonatite landscape leading to a resource of note with the current drill programme remains high; and
  • Average Thorium and Uranium grades reported at 0.019% and 0.000196% respectively indicating low levels of radioactive elements and therefore no perceived future penalties associated with final REE products.

Colin Bird Chairman commented "The results are extremely impressive and as good a start as the Company could wish for. What is particularly encouraging is the correlation between surface work and actual drill results since there is much channel sampling and trenching that we are able to use to target our future drilling. Table two clearly demonstrates that the project has the potential as previously stated to be in the top few producing and in development projects worldwide.

Grade is important, but tonnage is also a key factor and whilst it is too early to responsibly forecast tonnage the indications are that between Teufelskuppe and our neighbouring Keishohe carbonatite complex we have the potential to develop tonnages equal if not greater than the more outstanding projects currently in production or development. We now have our team on site and are about to commence further drilling to build up a resource and we plan to employ a second rig for reconnaissance drilling at both Teufelskuppe and Keishohe. As the capture of raw drilling data progresses our team will be assessing the database to fast track towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment. All in all, we are extremely satisfied with these results and could not have reasonably expected better and we will keep shareholders informed as we roll out our drilling, metallurgical and Resource estimation work programme"

Table 1: Drill Hole TWDD001 Mineralised Intercepts and corresponding TREO and LREO wt% Grades

Drill HoleDepth From (m)Depth To (m)Length (m)TREO 1 (wt%)LREO 2 (wt%)
TWDD0011.352.351.001.851.81
TWDD0014.0023.5019.501.401.34
TWDD00129.5035.506.004.304.21
TWDD00150.5053.503.003.002.97
TWDD00159.5080.6621.168.148.00

Notes:

  • REEs calculated as oxides and reported in weight ("wt")%
  • Light rare earth elements included in the calculation of LREO include the range Lanthanum to Gadolinium

Table Two below provides benchmarking of Teufelskuppe by TERO Ore Grade

Table 2: Benchmarking Teufelskuppe by TREO Ore Grade3

ProjectTREO Ore Grade (wt%)Resource /Reserve (Mt)Nd 2 O 3 & Pr 6 O 11 Grade (wt%)Status
Mountain Pass (USA)7.0618.9Nd/Pr combined 1.08Production
Mt Weld (Australia)6.432.0Nd/Pr combined 1.50Production
Teufelskuppe (Namibia)4.18 1&2UnknownNd/Pr combined 1.00Resource Definition
Longonjo (Angola)3.0422.0Nd/Pr combined 0.80Construction
Nolans (Australia)2.6056.0Nd/Pr combined 0.65Construction
Tanbreez (Greenland)0.5528.0Nd/Pr combined0.55Resource Upgrade
Phalaborwa (South Africa)0.4435.0Nd: 0.1 Pr: 0.025DFS

Notes

1 - Based on mean values from borehole TWDD001 and grade and channel samples from Teufelskuppe

2 - Excludes further contribution of 0.15% from the HREOs : Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb and Dy

3 - Information sourced from:

www.rainbowrarearths.com,

www.pensana.co.uk,

mpmaterials.com ,

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115001310 (Baya Obo, China)

Hatch, G.P. (2014). TMR Advanced Rare-Earth Projects Index. Technology Metal Research.

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

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