Lindian Resources has begun diamond drilling at its North Knoll prospect in Malawi, marking the first real test of a target that has been drawing interest since early sampling returned rare earths grades as high as 7.15 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO). North Knoll sits just 800m north of the company’s Kangankunde project, one of the world’s premier undeveloped rare earths deposits outside China, and the similarities between the two are already attracting attention.
Earlier work at North Knoll delivered rock chip assays containing high-grade neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), with NdPr/TREO ratios ranging from 19.2 to 28.8 per cent. Those ratios match what is seen in the main Kangankunde deposit and suggest the mineralisation may continue between the two areas. Field mapping has since outlined several carbonatite-rich lenses up to 300m long and between 5m and 75m wide, featuring the same green monazite that characterises Kangankunde.
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Lindian’s view is that if drilling confirms the continuity hinted at by surface sampling and mapping, North Knoll could quickly become a near-mine resource. Any additional lenses yet to be identified would add further optionality and could strengthen the development case for Kangankunde.
The scale of that flagship project is already striking. Kangankunde holds an ore reserve of 23.7 million tonnes at 2.9 per cent TREO, amounting to 676,000 tonnes of contained rare earths. Almost 20 per cent of those TREOs are high-value magnet metals such as NdPr — a key ingredient in permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. The project carries a mine life of about 45 years and is widely regarded as one of the highest-grade rare earths deposits outside China that has not yet reached development.
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According to the feasibility study of 2024, at full production, Kangankunde is expected to deliver a premium monazite concentrate grading 55 per cent rare earth oxides, free from problematic impurities, and with operating costs projected to sit in the lowest cost quartile worldwide. Metallurgical testing has reinforced the project’s appeal, with recoveries of NdPr reaching 93–97 per cent.
If drilling at North Knoll proves that the high-grade, monazite-rich carbonatite seen on the surface continues at depth — just like at the main deposit — it could be a major boost for Lindian. Because the prospect sits right next to the planned Stage 1 mining areas, it has the potential to provide higher-grade ore early in the operation, give the company more flexibility in its mine plan and improve the overall economics of the project. And if more carbonatite lenses are discovered in the area, it would further reinforce Kangankunde’s position as a top-tier rare earths deposit.
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