Kendrick Resources Plc (LON: KEN) has reported further high-grade rare earth results from drilling at its Teufelskuppe project, alongside strong correlation between field pXRF readings and certified laboratory assays.
The standout result came from hole TKDD003, which intersected 59.78 metres at 3.39% light rare earth oxide (LREO). The same hole also returned 3.75 metres at 3.83% LREO and 4.35 metres at 3.97% LREO.
Hole TKDD002 returned 38.2 metres at 3.14% LREO, together with a separate 5.4-metre interval grading 3.16% LREO.
At TKDD004, drilling intersected the near-surface exposure of a sill grading 3.12% LREO over 3.97 metres. Kendrick said the sill continues below surface, where it averages around 40 metres wide and has returned pXRF readings of approximately 3% LREO.
The company said the latest certified results reinforce the scale and continuity of mineralisation at Teufelskuppe as it works towards a target resource of at least 40 million tonnes grading around 3.0% LREO.
Kendrick also reported a strong statistical relationship between its field pXRF measurements and laboratory assays. Analysis of 100 samples produced a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.82, with field pXRF readings generally slightly lower than certified assay results.
The company believes this gives it greater confidence in using pXRF data to guide drilling and update its geological model while laboratory results are pending, potentially allowing exploration decisions to be made more quickly and efficiently.
Colin Bird, Chairman of Kendrick Resources, commented “We have now been able to directly compare pXRF values with certified laboratory analyses, and the correlation is highly satisfactory. The strong positive correlation offers practical benefits allowing us to continue our accelerated drilling programme as we have a high confidence in the pXRF data and we can continue to build our geological model and commence resource estimation replacing pXRF analyses with certified results as new data is received. Our target at Teufelskuppe remains a 40 million tonne resource at a grade of greater than 3.0 wt % LREO and the current programme is expected to continue to deliver impressive results on the ground allowing us to move towards a JORC (2012) Resource underpinned by ongoing petrological studies and metallurgical test work being undertaken in the United States and Europe, respectively. We look forward to providing shareholders with further updates as new data becomes available”.
Kendrick is continuing work towards a JORC 2012 resource estimate, alongside petrological studies and metallurgical test work being undertaken in the US and Europe.
