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Kendrick Resources Plc, the AIM-listed critical metals explorer, has intercepted broad zones of high-grade rare earth element (REE) mineralization at its Teufelskuppe (TK) project in Namibia, bolstering prospects for a major near-surface discovery.
The London-traded explorer reported a series of shallow, high-grade total rare earth oxide (TREO) intercepts from its latest diamond drilling program, using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis. The results from drill holes TKDD004 through TKDD006 confirm extensive continuity across the project’s carbonatite complex, a geological formation highly prized for harboring critical technology metals.
The findings come at a critical juncture for Western explorers racing to secure alternative supplies of rare earths, which are vital components in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and defense technologies.
According to the company, drill hole TKDD004 pierced continuous mineralization from the surface down to 5.5 meters, yielding an average grade of 2.3 weight percent (wt%) TREO. That interval included peak zones grading up to 3.61 wt% TREO. Meanwhile, TKDD005 positioned to test the shallowest extents of the system returned 2.35 wt% TREO over an 8-meter stretch directly from the surface.
The most robust results emerged from hole TKDD006, which cut through an extensive mineralized zone defined by multiple stacked, high-grade intervals. These included 2.5 meters at 3.4 wt% TREO from a depth of just 3.25 meters, alongside several other intercepts averaging over 3 wt% TREO down to 32.75 meters.
Crucially for potential economics, the lower-grade rock separating these premium intercepts still averaged a potent 2.04 wt% TREO across a combined 20 meters of the drill hole, underscoring the remarkably uniform nature of the deposit.
“Further evidence of excellent continuity of mineralization is enhanced by the presence of mineralized drill intercepts beginning at surface,” said Colin Bird, Executive Chairman of Kendrick Resources. “Mineralization is found occurring over substantial widths and it is important to note that between the highlighted high-grade intercepts we have continuous mineralization running at equally impressive grades relative to TK’s peers at an average grade of approximately 2 wt% TREO.”
Kendrick stated that the drill core has been comprehensively logged and dispatched to an independent laboratory for formal assay testing. The upcoming laboratory data will be used to validate the initial pXRF readings and pave the way for a maiden resource estimation.
Management expects the upcoming data to further de-risk the asset, cementing its potential to host a globally significant, easily extractable shallow rare earth resource.
