AuKing Mining Hits 72m at 1.51% Rare Earths 400m West of Known Zone
Key Takeaways
- Hole 26NH011, drilled 400m west of the September 14 holes, returned 72m @ 1.51% TREO from surface, including a 20m sub-interval at 4.26% TREO — confirming the Nathace Hill system extends well beyond its initially defined footprint.
- Near-surface high-grade mineralisation commencing from the surface across multiple step-out holes reduces potential stripping costs and lowers the capital hurdle for any future development scenario.
- Approximately 2,900 further samples are currently at Intertek's Perth or Zambia laboratories, with more than 1,300m of diamond drill core also being prepared — a substantial pipeline of results expected over coming months.
- Assays for hole 26NH002 have only been received to 73m depth, with additional carbonatite logged below that point and further results still pending, meaning reported grades may not reflect the full extent of mineralisation.
- AuKing is now formulating dedicated drilling plans targeting the western flank of Nathace Hill, elevating it from a peripheral target to a primary focus of the ongoing programme.
Western step-out drilling expands Tundulu’s rare earth footprint
AuKing Mining (ASX: AKN) has received outstanding assay results from step-out RC drilling along the western flank of Nathace Hill at the Tundulu Rare Earths Project in southern Malawi. Headline hole 26NH011 was drilled approximately 400m west of holes reported on 14 September 2026, demonstrating that the mineralised system extends well beyond the initially targeted area. With approximately 2,900 further samples currently at laboratory, a steady pipeline of additional results is expected over the coming months.
Key intersections from this release:
- 26NH011 — 72m @ 1.51% TREO from surface
- Including — 50m @ 2.03% TREO from surface
- Including — 20m @ 4.26% TREO from surface
- 26NH002 — 22m @ 1.50% TREO from surface
- Including — 8m @ 3.39% TREO from 2m
- And — 8m @ 2.09% TREO from 32m
- Note: assays for 26NH002 received to 73m depth only — further results are pending for the remainder of the hole where additional carbonatite has been logged.
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What the western flank results mean for Nathace Hill
A system that keeps growing
Hole 26NH011 was deliberately drilled in a direction away from the main Nathace Hill target area and still returned wide, high-grade intersections from surface. This is significant because it confirms that mineralisation is not confined to the southern area reported on 14 September 2026.
The western flank has seen only limited historical exploration and drilling compared with the more extensively drilled eastern side. AuKing’s results now establish it as a significant new exploration focus area, with high-grade zones occurring across a broader mineralised footprint when taken together with the earlier results.
Near-surface mineralisation commencing from the surface across multiple step-out holes is an important characteristic of this system. The company notes that this feature may provide favourable mining and development economics, though no definitive development assessment has been made at this stage.
Figure 1 in the announcement is a location map showing the position of 26NH011 approximately 400m west of the September 14 holes, illustrating visually how far the step-out drilling has pushed the known western extent of the system. Figure 2 shows a cross-section through holes 26NH002 and 26NH011, depicting the start of carbonatite, the central carbonatite core, and zones where assays are yet to be reported — reinforcing that the system remains open in multiple directions.
Key drill results at a glance
| Hole ID | Interval (m) | From (m) | TREO% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26NH011 | 72m | Surface | 1.51% | Step-out ~400m west |
| 26NH011 | 50m | Surface | 2.03% | High-grade sub-interval |
| 26NH011 | 20m | Surface | 4.26% | Exceptional sub-interval |
| 26NH002 | 22m | Surface | 1.50% | Assays to 73m only; further results pending |
| 26NH002 | 8m | 2m | 3.39% | High-grade sub-interval |
| 26NH002 | 8m | 32m | 2.09% | Secondary high-grade zone |
Understanding TREO and why rare earth grades matter
TREO stands for Total Rare Earth Oxides. It is the combined measure of all rare earth oxide content present in a rock sample, expressed as a percentage by weight. When a drill result reports 2% TREO, it means roughly 2kg of rare earth oxides are present in every 100kg of rock.
Grades above 1% TREO are broadly considered significant in the rare earths industry. The intersections from 26NH011 — with a 50m interval averaging 2.03% and a peak sub-interval of 4.26% over 20m — sit well above that threshold.
Rare earth elements are critical inputs for clean energy technology. They are used in the permanent magnets found in electric vehicle motors and direct-drive wind turbines, as well as in a wide range of consumer electronics. Demand for these materials is closely linked to the global energy transition, though no specific product pathway for Tundulu’s mineralisation has been announced by AuKing at this stage.
Here is why the grade and depth profile from these holes matters to investors:
- Near-surface mineralisation reduces stripping costs. When high-grade ore begins at the surface, far less waste rock needs to be removed before mining reaches it — lowering initial capital requirements.
- Wide intervals add confidence in continuity. A 72m intersection is not a narrow spike; it suggests a thick, consistent zone of mineralisation that is more likely to support resource estimation.
- Step-out success at distance increases project scale. Intersecting high grades 400m from the original holes means the system could be substantially larger than what the initial drilling defined.
- Grades above 2% from surface are relatively uncommon. Results of this calibre from a western flank area with limited prior drilling indicate the broader Nathace Hill system warrants aggressive follow-up.
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What comes next for AuKing at Tundulu
A pipeline of results on the way
Nearly 1,500 samples have been assayed to date. A further approximately 2,900 samples are either at Intertek’s Perth or Zambia laboratories being prepared, and more than 1,300m of diamond drill core samples are also being prepared for assay. AuKing expects to report a steady flow of results for the next few months.
Drilling plans are being formulated specifically to target the western flank area around Nathace Hill, following the results from 26NH011 and 26NH002.
Director commentary
Paul Williams, Managing Director, AuKing Mining
“This second release of assays from Tundulu continue the trend established from the initial holes featuring wide intervals of high-grade rare earths mineralisation. What makes these latest results important is that they were part of a group of step-out holes that were drilled to the west of the main Nathace Hill target area. In particular, drillhole 26NH011 was drilled in a direction away from Nathace Hill and still intersected wide intervals of high-grade mineralisation from surface.”
The Managing Director also noted that further drilling plans are being formulated for the western flank area around Nathace Hill. Taken together, the results from 26NH011 and 26NH002 — combined with the 14 September holes — are building a body of evidence for high-grade zones occurring across a broader mineralised footprint than initially defined.
The scale and extent of the Tundulu system is still being defined. Systematic step-out drilling is now demonstrating lateral continuity well beyond historical drill areas, and the western flank has moved from a peripheral target to a primary focus for AuKing’s ongoing programme.
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