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- Diamond drilling advancing strongly
- First diamond hole depth significantly extended to 510.62m
- Diamond drill hole confirms extensive carbonatite lithology
- End-of-hole logging indicates the carbonatite geology remains open at depth
AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) is preparing to further test the depth potential of its Tundulu rare earth project in Malawi after some promising hits with a large diamond drilling phase now underway.
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Recent results have boosted the company’s confidence that the overall geological model at Tunduluis now much broader and deeper than first anticipated.
End-of-hole logging has indicated the carbonatite geology remains open at depth, with other deep diamond drillholes planned.
MD, Paul Williams, said the current drilling program remains focused on maximising geological data around Nathace Hill to support a potential maiden mineral resource estimate later this year.
“AuKing’s exploration team continues to make excellent progress now that diamond drilling has commenced at Tundulu. Importantly, the observations from the initially-planned 300m first hole compelled the drilling to continue well beyond that depth, to 510m. Carbonatite geology has been confirmed throughout this now much deeper hole.”
“We also share investors’ frustrations with the delays in assay reporting of the early Tundulu drilling. Every effort has been taken to expedite the process of export permitting, transportation from Malawi to Zambia, sample preparation and then export to the lab in Perth.
“We still believe that AuKing’s logistics process has been undertaken much quicker than has generally been the experience of other companies in the region. With the samples now in the Intertek facility in Perth, we can expect a timely turnaround of the much-anticipated first assay results.”
On 31 July 2026 AuKing confirmed it had completed the reverse circulation (RC) component of the initial Tundulu drilling program, having drilled 4,300m across 31 holes.
Detailed geological logging of all these RC drillholes has been completed, confirming widespread carbonatite lithologies throughout the current drilling area.
Of particular interest is the interpretation of carbonatite material in drillholes situated well away from the primary Nathace Hill target area, which has been the focus of previous exploration.
AKN is steady at 1.8¢ with a Mkt cap of $42M.
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