The Australian-listed company AuKing Mining Limited (ASX: AKN) has agreed to acquire a 100% interest in the Tundulu Rare Earths Project located in south-eastern Malawi. The target is a roughly 5 km diameter intrusive carbonatite complex within a 91.5 km2 licence area (EL 0731/24), offering an opportunity to revisit a large but under-explored rare earth district with focused modern work. The project benefits from accessible infrastructure: it lies about 70 km south-east of Zomba and 90 km east of Blantyre, with the town of Migowi approximately 25 km away and tied to the national electricity grid.
The site has a history of exploration that initially targeted phosphate yet returned significant rare earth results, providing a de-risked starting point for AuKing’s program. Historical campaigns include JICA drilling and later work by Mota-Engil/Optichem, with multiple holes ending in appreciable mineralisation. The company intends to launch targeted exploration once the acquisition completes, including an initial drilling program designed to refine the geometry and grade distribution and to pursue an initial Mineral Resource estimate within the next 12 months, subject to results.
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Why Tundulu matters
Tundulu is part of an emerging REE district in southern Malawi and is proximal to known deposits such as Lindian Resources’ Kangankunde and the Songwe Hill project. The complex comprises several topographic highs arranged around a central vent at Nathace Hill, where the bulk of prior sampling and drilling occurred. Geologically the area is dominated by carbonatite-hosted rare earth mineralisation and associated apatite bodies. The distinction between carbonatite (a carbonate-rich igneous rock frequently carrying rare earths) and apatite (a phosphate mineral that can host P2O5) is important because each host type implies different extraction and value profiles.
Historical drilling and assay highlights
Previous exploration produced several notable intercepts that indicate both surface and deeper potential. JICA drilling reported results such as 41m @ 3.7% TREO from 8m (JMT-22) and 35m @ 2.7% TREO from 15m including 14m @ 4.1% TREO (JMT-17). Work by Mota-Engil/Optichem (2014–2015) returned hits including 15m @ 3.46% TREO from 73m (TU071), 31m @ 2.27% TREO from 41m (TU048), and 30m @ 4.03% TREO from surface (TU014). Several holes ended in mineralisation; in total, 24 historical holes terminated in mineralised intervals, eight of which closed with >2% TREO.
Phosphate intersections and complementary information
Although many earlier programs targeted phosphate, those results can be complementary to REE exploration. For example, drill hole TU042 recorded 100m @ 12.6% P2O5 from 30m, while TU050 yielded 7m @ 14.4% P2O5 from surface. Logs also demonstrate a correlation between rich apatite intervals and abundant HREE (heavy rare earth element) content, suggesting that both host types warrant systematic follow-up to delineate where the highest-value elements are concentrated.
Project potential and planned work
AuKing highlights that the Tundulu system contains elevated proportions of HREEs and MREEs with relatively low uranium and thorium levels, an attractive attribute for downstream processing and environmental permitting. Historical rock-chip assays also returned high-grade surface samples, for example 6.07% TREO on the eastern flank of Tundulu Hill and 6.41% TREO at Nathace Hill. The company plans to prioritize modern, REE-focused exploration techniques—geochemistry, structural mapping and targeted drilling—to build a robust geological model and test the extent of the carbonatite bodies beyond previously sampled highs.
Commercial context and next steps
In commercial terms the Tundulu acquisition aligns with AuKing’s strategy to gain exposure to critical minerals within quality projects. Management has indicated that field work will commence after the acquisition is completed, and that the early drilling campaign will be aimed at delivering sufficient data for an initial Mineral Resource estimate within a 12‑month timeframe, subject to positive outcomes. Investors should note that this announcement outlines planned activities and is not a guarantee of future results.
Disclaimer
This report includes material provided by AuKing Mining and is presented for informational purposes. It does not constitute financial product advice. Readers should carry out their own due diligence before acting on any information, and consult professional advisers where appropriate.
