Lindian Resources Limited progresses towards mine development works and commissioning Stage 1 Processing Plant at the Kangankunde Rare Earths project, following the conclusion of its two-phase drilling program.
The successful drilling program yielded a preliminary Mineral Resources Estimate (MRE) at Kangankunde Rare Earths project of 261 million tonnes at 2.19% TREO for 5.7 million tonnes of TREO in the Inferred category. The average NdPr/MRE ratio is 20%, accounting for 1.2Mt of NdPr.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) confirmed that REE mineral concentrates from Kangankunde are not radioactive for transport, paving the way for accelerated processing and future off-take agreements.
Lindian has completed all drilling and metallurgical work to develop the Kangankunde Rare Earths project into a significant TREO mineral resource. The next phase involves a ~4,000m mine development drill program to convert a portion of the Inferred MRE to an Indicated MRE. This is supported by a Whittle mine optimisation process and geo-analytical assessment of drill spacing needed to achieve Indicated Resources.
The drill program has begun, aiming to convert approximately 20 million tonnes to Indicated Resource for Stage 1 processing operations and a forthcoming mine design schedule.
Meanwhile, Lindian announced it has submitted licenses for water extraction and explosives storage, and an Environmental Management Plan has been developed for project development and operational controls.
The company is completing the engineering design of the Stage 1 plant. The process plant design parameters include concentrate recovery, intended to provide a marketable volume of monazite mineral concentrate with an NdPr ratio ranging from 18% to 22%.
Civil engineering plans for the stage 1 process plant and site support facilities are also nearing completion. Crushing and screening will be done with leased mobile track mounted crushing units, and a complete update on the plant design and project study works program will be announced soon.
“The Lindian management team has prioritised the commissioning of an on-site Stage 1 processing plant, and a detailed update on the plant is outlined in this announcement. With on-site activities ramping up, we are preparing for another busy period of news flow in the December quarter as Lindian pursues its stated objective to develop Kangankunde into one of the world’s premier rare earth assets with Stage 1 commissioning at the end of 2024. Lindian reiterates the strong support from the Malawian Government and Local Community for its commitment to rapidly bring Kangankunde into production with the project underpinned by secure tenure of Mining Licence MML0290/22 and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study with Certificate No. 2.10.16., granting the Company the right to develop, mine, process and sell mineral concentrate,” Lindian’s Chief Executive Officer Alistair Stephens said.
Lindian has shortlisted several contractors for Project Execution and Mining, and various site visits have taken place.
