en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) has continued to advance its combined reverse circulation and diamond drilling program at the Tundulu Project in the southern part of the country, completing 27 holes with a total of over 3,850 meters of reverse circulation drilling to date.
On-site geological logging results indicate the persistent presence of carbonatite intrusions in the drill holes. Recent drilling in the areas east of Kamilala Hill and Tundulu Hill has also confirmed this geological feature. Assay results are still pending.
Drilling at Nathace Hill, Tundulu Hill, and the adjacent Kamilala Hill has confirmed the presence of extensive carbonatite geological structures in the area. The inferred carbonatite complexes at Makhanga Hill, Namuka Hill, and Chigwakwalu Hill are yet to be verified by subsequent drilling. AuKing's confidence in the regional-scale geological system of the Tundulu area continues to strengthen, with the current drilling success rate exceeding 95%.
AuKing Managing Director Paul Williams stated that the company's exploration team has made steady progress in the planned 15,000-meter drilling program at the Tundulu Project, completing 27 holes and over 3,850 meters of drilling. He noted that while formal conclusions must await the assay results from this drilling campaign, the Tundulu Project clearly possesses the potential for a larger-scale system than initially envisioned.
A deeper diamond drilling program is scheduled to commence in late July. Laboratory assays will be used to verify the nature and distribution range of the rare earth elements present. Multiple reverse circulation holes terminated in carbonatite lithology at their final depths, indicating that the geological system extends beyond the current reverse circulation drilling depth, providing strong support for the upcoming diamond drilling. Notably, the intersection of carbonatite intrusions discovered approximately 800 meters east of Tundulu Hill (east of Nathace Hill) provides ongoing geological validation for the interpretation of recent airborne magnetic survey data.
Paul Williams stated that a notable feature of the early drilling at the Tundulu Project is the presence of inferred carbonatite intrusions in nearly all completed drill holes. These intrusions are not only found at Nathace Hill and its surrounding areas (a target zone for historically significant drilling) but also extend to the west and northeast of this main area. These inferred carbonatites continue to extend east of Tundulu Hill, significantly expanding the distribution range of carbonatites beyond the company's initial expectations.
Prior to this drilling progress update, AuKing completed a A$5 million financing round, attracting strong interest from strategic investors and global funds. The company plans to drill three additional reverse circulation holes (approximately 450 meters), which will bring the reverse circulation portion of the entire drilling program to 28 holes totaling 4,130 meters. The planned diamond drilling component will include new holes drilled from the surface, as well as diamond tails extending from selected reverse circulation holes. Final drill hole locations will be determined based on geological logging information, geophysical targets, and available assay results.
