AMN - ANGOLA: Major drilling planned at Longonjo

Rift Valley Resources will undertake a 9000 metre drill program designed to evaluate the potential for a globally significant high-grade NdPr deposit at its Longonjo project in Angola. The two-phase program is scheduled to begin in late August with first results expected six weeks later.

The program will test an area of 2.4 sqkm or about 10 times the extent of the mineral resource estimate announced last September.

Longonjo's maiden inferred resource stands at 44.7 million tonnes at 2.50% total rare-earth oxides (TREO), including a from surface resource of 11.6 million tonnes at 4.30% TREO oxide ore, with a cut-off of 1.0% TREO.

This resource estimate covers an area of 670 by 350 metres to a depth of less than 30 metres and has mineralisation open in all directions.

The two-phase program has been designed to test the whole of the highly mineralised carbonatite and will enable an updated mineral resource estimate to be reported.

The first phase comprises 200 x 100 metre spaced drilling to an anticipated average depth of 45 metres over the entire carbonatite geological structure and associated soil anomaly.

This phase will determine the extent, grade and style of NdPr mineralisation within both the weathered zone and underlying fresh rock.

The second phase, which will be dependent on the results from the first phase, is intended to infill areas of NdPr mineralisation identified to a 100 x 100-metre drill hole spacing and will provide sufficient information for an updated JORC Mineral Resource estimate to be determined.

The program will also generate representative samples for mineralogical and metallurgical test work designed to identify the most favourable style of NdPr mineralisation for process route development.

Chairman Paul Atherley said: “China controls well over 90% of the world’s production of NdPr which is the core metal used in electric motors for EVs, wind turbines and more generally in the electrification of modern society.

"There is only one listed NdPr producer in the world today, Lynas Corporation, which sells most of its production to China.

"Dave Hammond and his team have designed this program with the clear objective of delineating a globally significant NdPr resource at Longonjo.”

www.riftvalleyresources.com.au