Mkango Identifies Further Extensions of Mineralisation in Latest Drill Results From the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project in Malawi
Mkango Identifies Further Extensions of Mineralisation in Latest Drill Results
From the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project in Malawi
LONDON and CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 20, 2018 -- Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM / TSXV: MKA) (the "Company" or "Mkango") is
pleased to announce results for a further nine holes from the recently completed 10,900 metre diamond drill programme at the
Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project (“Songwe”) in Malawi. The drilling programme is a key component of the ongoing initial phases of
the Feasibility Study for Songwe, which is fully funded following investments by Mkango’s strategic partner, Talaxis Limited, in
January 2018.
Highlights from the results include the following:
PX068 20.6 m grading 2.8% TREO (39.0 – 59.6 m). Inclined hole (60 degrees west).
PX071
18.0 m grading 1.6% TREO (13.0 – 31.0 m) and 72.5 m grading 1.2% TREO (55.6 – 128.1 m). Inclined hole (60
degrees east).
PX074 30.4 m grading 1.7% TREO (15.0 – 45.4 m). Inclined hole (60 degrees west).
PX075 23.8 m grading 2.4% TREO (44.3 – 68.1 m). Inclined hole (60 degrees west).
PX079 30.5 m grading 1.4% TREO (83.0 – 113.5 m). Inclined hole (60 degrees west).
TREO: total rare earth oxides based on total La 2O3, Ce2O3, Pr 2O3, Nd 2O3, Sm 2O3, Eu 2O3, Gd 2O3, Tb2O3, Dy 2O3, Ho 2O3, Er 2O3,
Tm2O3, Yb 2O3, Lu 2O3, Y 2O3. These intersections are reported as down hole widths and do not necessarily represent true
thicknesses and attitude of the mineralised zones, the estimation of which will require further refining of the geological model.
William Dawes, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are very encouraged by the continuing consistency of results and
intersections outside the area of the previous mineral resource estimate, identifying new zones of mineralisation. The updated
resource estimate will incorporate the results of this latest 10,900 metre drill programme and will form the basis of an updated and
optimised mine plan for incorporation into the ongoing feasibility study. We look forward to announcing results from the remaining
66 drill holes totalling 8,396 m.”
• The drill programme comprised infill drilling to confirm and upgrade the existing Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource
Estimates, testing extensions to the mineralisation, and geotechnical drilling.
• All nine drill holes intersected rare earth mineralisation, with the table above highlighting selected intersections each
averaging 1% TREO or more. The next batch of results from a further eight drill holes will be announced in coming weeks.
• Drill holes PX069, PX074, PX075 and PX079 were step-out drill holes, focused on testing north-west extensions of the
mineralisation. These holes are located between previously announced drill hole PX082 and the area drilled in the stage 1
and 2 drill programmes, the first time this zone has been drilled; therefore these initial results are very encouraging.
• PX099 was collared to the east of mapped carbonatite outcrop, and successfully targeted the eastern contact of the
mineralisation at depth.
• The remaining drill holes were focused on infill drilling, notably PX068 located on the north-west margin of the previously
delineated mineral resource estimate.
A schematic geological map illustrating the location of the drill hole collars and estimated drill hole traces is available on the
Company’s website (www.mkango.ca).
The breakdown of TREO values reported above are as follows:
Drill Hole From To Interval La2O3 Ce2O3 Pr2O3 Nd2O3 Sm2O3 Eu2O3 Gd2O3 Tb2O3 Dy2O3 Ho2O3 Er2O3 Tm2O3 Yb2O3 Lu2O3 Y2O3 TREO
m m m ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm %
PX049
40.8
53.9 13.2 (i)
2,740
5,777 679
2,485 359 84 181 20 102 18 44 5 28 3
518 1.3%
(i) Includes 6.8m cavity not sampled. Due to size of cavity, the
significance of this intersection is uncertain.
PX068 39.0
59.6 20.6
8,471
12,590
1,127
3,603 611 167 398 40 173 26 63 9 52 7
730 2.8%
PX069 70.0
81.6 11.6
2,576
5,466 640
2,453 437 122 290 34 155 25 58 7 37 4
673 1.3%
PX071 13.0
31.0 18.0
4,417
7,209 693
2,139 277 73 173 20 91 14 32 4 23 3
371 1.6%
55.6
128.1 72.5
3,309
5,527 536
1,735 245 70 173 21 106 17 42 5 30 4
458 1.2%
PX074 1.5
45.4 43.9
3,807
6,515 624
2,058 271 69 163 18 86 14 31 4 22 3
363 1.4%
including 15.0
45.4 30.4
4,593
7,715 726
2,337 295 74 176 20 95 15 34 4 25 3
400 1.7%
PX075
44.3
68.1 23.8
7,159
10,908 977
2,992 361 91 224 28 142 23 55 7 39 5
645 2.4%
PX079
31.1
113.5 82.4
2,682
5,036 542
1,933 296 77 180 21 97 15 35 4 24 3
423 1.1%
including 83.0
113.5 30.5
3,476
6,267 655
2,212 307 77 174 20 92 15 34 4 24 3
406 1.4%
PX097 6.1
30.5 24.4 (i)
2,329
4,894 551
1,996 325 89 212 24 116 19 43 5 27 3
502 1.1%
(i) Includes 3.5m cavity not
sampled.
PX099
159.0
172.8 13.8 (i)
3,452
5,578 537
1,743 239 65 158 19 83 12 26 3 17 2
316 1.2%
(i) Includes 3.1m cavity not
sampled.
Scientific and technical information contained in this release including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information
has been approved and verified by Dr. Scott Swinden PGeo of Swinden Geoscience Consultants Ltd, who is a "Qualified Person" in
accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Sample preparation and analytical work for the drilling and channel sampling programmes are being provided by Intertek-Genalysis
Laboratories (Perth, Australia) employing ICP-MS techniques suitable for rare earth element (REE) analyses and following strict
internal QAQC procedures inserting duplicates, blanks and standards. Internal Laboratory QAQC was also completed to include
blanks, standards and duplicates.
About Mkango Resources Limited
Mkango's primary business is exploration for rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, a country
whose hospitable people have earned it a reputation as “the warm heart of Africa”. The Company holds interests in three exclusive
prospecting licenses in Malawi, the Phalombe licence, the Thambani licence and the Chimimbe Hill licence.
The main exploration target in the 80% held Phalombe licence is the Songwe Hill rare earths deposit, which features carbonatite-
hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s. Mkango completed an updated Pre-
Feasibility Study for the project in November 2015 and a Feasibility Study is currently underway, the initial phases of which include
the recently completed 10,900 metre drilling programme.
Under the terms of an agreement with Talaxis, Talaxis will fully fund the Feasibility Study for Songwe by investing £12 million for a
49% interest in the project (via Mkango subsidiary Lancaster Exploration Ltd). Talaxis will also have the option to acquire a further
26% interest by arranging funding for project development including funding the equity component thereof. If Talaxis exercises its
option, Mkango will retain a 25% interest, free carried to production. To-date, Talaxis has invested £5 million, which is funding the
initial phase of the Feasibility Study, for a 20% interest in the project with Mkango holding 80%.
By investing a further £2 million, Talaxis will acquire a 49% interest in Maginito Ltd, a new subsidiary of Mkango focused on
neodymium alloy powders, magnets and other technologies. This includes the collaboration with Metalysis Ltd announced in
September 2017, which is focused on advanced alloys using neodymium or praseodymium with other elements for permanent
magnet manufacturing. Permanent magnets are critical materials for most electric vehicles, direct drive wind turbines and many
other high growth applications. Neodymium is a key rare earth component at Songwe. To date, Talaxis has invested £1 million for a
24.5% interest in Maginito with Mkango holding 75.5%.
The main exploration targets in Mkango’s remaining two 100% held licences are, in the Thambani licence, uranium, niobium,
tantalum and zircon and, in the Chimimbe Hill licence, nickel and cobalt.
For more information, please visit www.mkango.ca.
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure
Certain information contained in this announcement may have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable securities laws) with
respect to Mkango, its business and the Project. Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such
as “plans”, “expects” or “is expected”, “scheduled”, “estimates” “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, or variations of such words and
phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results “can”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will”, occur or be
achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to
the global market for products using the rare earth metals the Company is exploring for, completion of the feasibility study and of
the transactions contemplated in the agreement with Talaxis, as well as the use of proceeds from the investments into the
Company by Talaxis and the timing of such expenditures. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their
nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and
specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not
occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of
future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without
limiting the foregoing, market demand for the metals and associated downstream products for which Mkango is exploring,
researching and developing, the positive results of a feasibility study on the Project, delays in obtaining financing or governmental or
stock exchange approvals. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news
release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in
respect of the matters discussed above.
For further information on Mkango, please contact:
Mkango Resources Limited
William Dawes
Chief Executive Officer
UK: +44 207 3722 744
Canada: +1 403 444 5979
www.mkango.ca
@MkangoResources
Alexander Lemon
President
Blytheweigh
Financial Public Relations
Tim Blythe, Camilla Horsfall, Julia Tilley
UK: +44 207 138 3204
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Jeff Keating, Caroline Rowe
UK: +44 20 3470 0470
Alternative Resource Capital
Joint Broker
Alex Wood, Rob Collins
UK: +44 20 7186 9004; +44 20 7186 9001
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX
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Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the
Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or
benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.