AuKing Mining’s Tundulu Rare Earth Carbonatite Stays Open Past 400m Depth
Key Takeaways
- AuKing Mining's second diamond drillhole at Tundulu (26NH023) was extended from a planned 300m to 400.42m after carbonatite lithology persisted well beyond the initial target depth.
- Both completed diamond holes — 26NH032 at 510.6m and 26NH023 at 400.42m — remain open at depth, meaning the carbonatite system continues beyond the drilled extent in each case.
- A completed RC program of 4,300m across 31 holes has confirmed widespread carbonatite throughout the drilling area, with the system also intercepted at targets several hundred metres from the primary Nathace Hill zone.
- No assay results have been released; all observations to date are based on visual core logging, and laboratory analysis is still required to confirm rare earth element presence and grade.
- AuKing is targeting a potential maiden Mineral Resource Estimate at Nathace Hill later in 2026, contingent on completing the current diamond drilling dataset.
Diamond drilling confirms carbonatite extends beyond planned depth at Tundulu
AuKing Mining (ASX: AKN) has released a drilling progress update from the Tundulu Rare Earth Project in southern Malawi, dated 1 September 2026, confirming that carbonatite lithology continues to extend well beyond initial depth targets in its second diamond drillhole.
The second diamond hole, 26NH023, was planned to a total depth of 300m but was extended to 400.42m after extensive carbonatite lithology was logged beyond that initial target. End-of-hole observations indicate the carbonatite geology remains open at depth, meaning the system continues beyond the drilled extent. This follows the same outcome in the first diamond hole, 26NH032, which was similarly extended beyond its 300m plan and ultimately completed at 510.6m, also open at depth. A completed reverse circulation (RC) program of 4,300m across 31 holes underpins both results.
Drillhole summary
| Hole ID | Type | Total Depth (m) | Azimuth | Dip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26NH032 | RC + DDH | 510.6 | 225° | -55° |
| 26NH023 | RC + DDH | 400.42 | 220° | -55° |
| 26NH024 | DDH | * (incomplete) | 355° | -55° |
*Note: All depths are downhole lengths. True widths are currently unknown. * denotes hole currently being drilled.*
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What is a carbonatite complex and why does it matter for rare earths?
When a carbonatite system proves deeper and more laterally extensive than initial models suggested, it generally points to a larger potential resource footprint. The extension of carbonatite geology to substantial depths provides important geological information for the planned maiden Tundulu Mineral Resource estimate.
It is important to be clear about what has and has not been established here. The drilling confirms the presence and extent of carbonatite rock, a geological observation based on visual core logging. No assay results have been reported. Laboratory analysis is still required to determine whether rare earth element mineralisation is present and at what grade. Visual logging is explicitly not a substitute for that analytical work, and the company has stated as much in its cautionary disclosure.
Building toward a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate at Nathace Hill
The current multi-hole diamond drilling program is explicitly focused on generating sufficient geological data to support a potential maiden MRE at Nathace Hill, with the company targeting potential completion of that estimate later in 2026. The word “potential” is deliberate here; the MRE is contingent on the drilling dataset that is still being assembled.
What makes the emerging picture geologically meaningful is the scale of what is being observed. Carbonatite has not only persisted to depths well beyond initial models in both completed diamond holes, but has also been intercepted in holes situated several hundreds of metres away from the primary Nathace Hill target area. That spatial extent has strengthened the company’s interpretation of a district-scale carbonatite intrusive complex at Tundulu, one that may be significantly larger than previously anticipated.
Key drilling observations to date:
- RC program: 4,300m across 31 holes completed; widespread carbonatite confirmed throughout the drilling area
- First diamond hole (26NH032): carbonatite open at 510.6m depth
- Second diamond hole (26NH023): carbonatite open at 400.42m depth
- Third hole (26NH024): currently drilling at 355° azimuth, -55° dip
- Carbonatite confirmed at targets well beyond the Nathace Hill central zone
Assay results from the diamond core remain pending. No grade data has been disclosed, and the geological observations reported to date should not be read as a statement of mineralisation quality or economic potential.
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What’s next for AuKing at Tundulu
Additional deep diamond drillholes are planned across other areas of Nathace Hill, with the aim of continuing to build the broader geological dataset required for resource estimation work. The company has decided to progress drilling to new areas rather than extend the first two holes further, reflecting a focus on spatial coverage across the intrusive complex.
Assay results from the drilled diamond core are pending and will be reported when received. Those results will provide the laboratory-confirmed data on rare earth element presence and grade that visual logging cannot supply.
The Tundulu REE Project is located in southeastern Malawi, approximately 90km east of Blantyre. The project sits within Exploration Licence EL0731/24, granted 27 May 2024, covering an area of approximately 91.5 km² and currently held 100% in the name of Malawian-registered Green Exploration Ltd, a subsidiary of Tusker Minerals Limited, and is the subject of a transfer approval with the Malawi MMRA. When assay results are released, they will represent the first material grade data from the diamond drilling phase and the clearest signal yet of what the carbonatite system contains.
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