Lindian fires up rigs to target high-grade Malawian rare earths
With an astonishing 45-year mine life, Kangankunde is turning into one of the rare earth heavyweights in waiting. A 2024 feasibility study put a big green check on the economy, yielding a net present value of US$794 million (A$1.2 billion) from a pre-development bill of just US$40 million (A$60 million); This is a surprisingly low price of entry by global standards.
The plan is to produce a premium monazite concentrate containing a total of 55 percent heavy rare earth oxides, free from harmful elements. Even better, operating costs are expected to sit comfortably in the lowest cost quartile globally, giving the project the kind of margin power that most miners would salivate at.
Recent metallurgical testing on the Kangankunde ore has also confirmed how valuable the deposit is, with its unique monazite-rich ore providing ultra-high TREO recoveries, including up to 93-97 percent recovery of NdPr.
If drilling at North Knoll confirms the same high-grade, NdPr-rich continuum seen in Lindian’s flagship deposit – early signs already point to the same monazite-rich carbonatite at surface – the upside for Lindian could be significant.
Located immediately adjacent to planned Phase 1 mining areas, the prospect can deliver higher quality feed early, adding flexibility to mine planning and improving overall project economics. And with more carbonatite lenses likely still hiding in the wings, Kangankunde’s position as a truly world-class rare earth asset will only grow stronger.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
