AMN - MALAWI: Mineralisation extended at Thambani

Mkango Resources has extended areas of uranium, tantalum and niobium mineralisation at the Thambani project in southern Malawi. This was the result of a rock sampling program undertaken during the company’s 2019 exploration program.

Assay results from 128 rock samples collected during the program returned uranium, tantalum and niobium values ranging up to 0.74% uranium, 0.41% tantalum and 3.24% niobium.

Of this total, 43 graded above 500ppm uranium, of which 13 graded above 1,000ppm. All but one of these 43 samples were in-situ rock samples.

The objective of this program was to identify new areas of outcropping mineralisation through further geological reconnaissance and sampling, guided by a handheld spectrometer.

Sampling was focused on the uranium anomalies identified by previous airborne and ground radiometric surveys, including areas where previous sampling gave encouraging results.

The aim of the sampling was to better delineate the mineralised zones and to localise future drill sites to test the downdip extension of surface mineralisation.

Field observations and sampling results suggest that mineralisation occurs in zones that are conformable with gneissic banding.

The 2019 sampling program was focused on radiometric uranium anomalies associated with the Thambani Massif, a body of nepheline-bearing syenite gneiss which dominates the north-eastern part of the licence.

Previous work has shown the uranium anomalies to be associated with niobium and tantalum mineralisation.

58 surface grab samples were collected, 54 of which were from outcrop associated with the prominent radiometric anomaly along the western slope of the East Ridge and four from outcrop in the Supe River.

Ten trenches were excavated by hand over radiometric anomalies. Three of these, the Western Trenches, were spaced 25 metres apart, immediately adjacent to a pit where the highest grades were encountered in 2017.

The seven other trenches were excavated over radiometric anomalies at widely separated locations on the lower slope of the East Ridge.

In all of the trenches, highly weathered nepheline syenite gneiss was encountered below a bouldery soil horizon approximately 0.5 metres thick. The westward dip of the banded gneiss observed in outcrop on the ridges was recognisable in the trenches despite strong weathering.

In the Western Trenches, 70 samples were collected, 61 of which were horizontal channel samples of 2 metres length collected along each wall in all of the three trenches. Five similar samples were collected in one trench at the foot of the East Ridge.

This program provides new information on the nature, disposition and grade ranges of mineralisation in the Thambani Massif.

Sampling of mainly fresh samples on the East Ridge indicates that the U-Ta-Nb mineralisation occurs within the gneissic bands, and surface observations indicate that it may occur in conformable zones. This provides a target for shallow drilling on the down-dip extension of the surface showings.

Mkango is evaluating strategic options for Thambani, including opportunities for joint venture and other potential avenues to create value.

www.mkango.ca