Mkango Identifies New Zones of High Grade Uranium, Tantalum and Niobium at Thambani
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MKANGO RESOURCES LTD.
706 27 Avenue NW,
Calgary, Alberta T2M 2J3
MKANGO IDENTIFIES NEW ZONES OF HIGH GRADE URANIUM, TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM AT THAMBANI
Calgary, Alberta: May 24 2017 -- Mkango Resources Ltd. (TSXV / AIM: MKA) (the " Corporation" or
"Mkango"), announces results from recent sampling at the Thambani Project in southern Malawi:
• Assay results from 85 rock grab samples returned high grade uranium , tantalum and niobium
values, ranging up to 3.3 % U3O8, 1.9 % Ta2O5 and 6.0 % Nb2O5. 35 of the samples graded above
500ppm U3O8 and 24 graded above 1,000ppm U 3O8. Results associated with the twenty best U3O8
assays are summarised in the table below.
• The main objectives of the programme were to confirm previously identified high grade
mineralisation at the Little Ngona target, ground -truth new geophysical targets and complete
further reconnaissance sampling along the East and West Ridges.
• New areas of high grade uranium, tantalum and niobium mineralisation were identified at the foot
of the West Ridge and on the East Ridge. Most significantly, a radiometric high at the foot of the
West Ridge yielded two of four highest grade samples of this phase of exploration.
Alexander Lemon, President of Mkango, said: "These results further support Thambani’s exploration
potential. Not only are the uranium results highly encouraging, but the equally positive tant alum and
niobium results support that Thambani has significant multi-commodity potential.”
Assays from the 20 highest grade U3O8 samples from the Thambani sampling programme
Sample no. U3O8 ppm U3O8 % Ta2O5 ppm Ta2O5 % Nb2O5 ppm Nb2O5 %
U3141 32590 3.26 19029 1.90 59200 5.92
U3183 31812 3.18 15224 1.52 60055 6.01
U3136 10131 1.01 4845 0.48 32478 3.25
U3111 8826 0.88 4191 0.42 14871 1.49
U3127 5468 0.55 3084 0.31 15138 1.51
U3135 5265 0.53 2747 0.27 13183 1.32
U3122 5250 0.52 2431 0.24 10820 1.08
U3125 4518 0.45 2028 0.20 8461 0.85
U3115 4352 0.44 2221 0.22 9789 0.98
U3121 4191 0.42 2390 0.24 13585 1.36
U3137 3988 0.40 1896 0.19 8707 0.87
U3124 3952 0.40 2100 0.21 9600 0.96
U3168 3664 0.37 2022 0.20 7137 0.71
U3129 3562 0.36 1625 0.16 6469 0.65
U3176 3264 0.33 1905 0.19 5864 0.59
U3131 2768 0.28 1293 0.13 5314 0.53
U3133 2231 0.22 1235 0.12 5971 0.60
U3118 2163 0.22 1330 0.13 3838 0.38
U3172 1749 0.17 1351 0.14 3924 0.39
U3119 1741 0.17 916 0.09 4592 0.46
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Sampling was primarily focused on zones of anomalous uranium and associated niobium and tantalum
targets across the Thambani Massif, a nepheline-bearing syenite gneiss which dominates the north-eastern
part of the licence. Grab samples are selective sample s and are not necessarily representative of the
mineralization hosted on the property. The average grades for the 85 samples were 1,892 ppm U3O8, 1,029
ppm Ta2O5 and 4,562 ppm Nb 2O5. The median grades for the 85 samples were 343 ppm U3O8, 222 ppm
Ta2O5 and 958 ppm Nb2O5. The ranges of grades for the 85 samples were 1 – 32,590 ppm U3O8, 2 – 19,029
ppm Ta2O5 and 0 – 60,055 ppm Nb2O5.
Mkango is currently evaluating strategic options for Thambani, including opportunities to joint venture or
spin-off the project, and other potential avenues to create value.
Thambani Project
Mkango’s exploration activities to date include acquisition of Landsat7 and ASTER satellite imagery for the
licence area, interpretation of airborne geophysical data, systematic ground radiometric surveys,
reconnaissance geological mapping and litho-geochemical sampling programmes. The work has identified a
number of potential uranium and associated niobium-tantalum targets over the Thambani Massif, which is
mainly composed of nepheline -bearing syenite gneiss, forming two prominent ridges known as Thambani
East Ridge and West Ridge.
Radiometric surveys revealed two distinct uranium anomalies occurring across the Thambani East and
West Ridges: a strong uranium anomaly, measuring approximately 3 kilometre s (“km”) by 1.5 km, occurs
along the length of the Thambani East ridge, with a north-south trend, and a second NW-trending uranium
anomaly, measuring approximately 1.5 km by 0.4 km, occurring along the foot of the West Ridge
coincident with the western contact of the nepheline-bearing syenite body with granodioritic augen gneiss.
Scientific and technical information contained in this release has been approved and verified by Dr. Scott
Swinden 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 sampling programme is being provided by Intertek -
Genalysis Laboratories (Johannesburg, South Africa and Perth, Australia) employing assay methods suitable
for the analysis of uranium, niobium and tantalum. Mkango inserted its own blanks and standards into the
sample stream, and inter nal laboratory QAQC was also completed to include blanks, standards and
duplicates.
About Mkango Resources Ltd.
Mkango's primary business is the 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”. Mkango holds, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lancaster Exploration Limited, a 100% interest
in two exclusive prospecting licences in southern Malawi, the Phalombe licence and the Thambani
licence.
The main exploration target in the 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. Mkango’s
strategy for Son gwe is to further optimise the project with a view to maximising efficiency and reducing
costs, thereby providing a strong platform for entering into partnerships, marketing and offtake
arrangements. In December 2016, Mkango entered into an agreement with Noble Resources International
to collaborate in the rare earths sector. In March 2017, Mkango entered into a MOU with Metalysis Limited
to jointly research, develop and commercialise novel rare earth metal alloys for use in three -dimensional
(3D) printed permanent magnets.
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The main exploration targets in the Thambani licence are uranium, niobium, tantalum and other associated
minerals.
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For further information on Mkango, please contact:
Mkango Resources Limited
William Dawes Alexander Lemon
Chief Executive Officer President
[email protected] [email protected]
UK: +44 207 3722 744
Canada: +1 403 444 5979
www.mkango.ca
@MkangoResources
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