Pensana provides Coola exploration programme results update

Having identified highly anomalous technology metals including rare earths, scandium and fluorite in soils surrounding the 7500 km2 Coola project in 2020, field exploration activities resumed in 3Q21, and a range of very encouraging results has been reported from the Coola carbonatite and the recently identified Sulima West.

Highlights

• 22 samples from a 4.2 km dia. ring structure at Sulima West, located 50 km from the Coola carbonatite, were all mineralised and returned values of between 0.6% and 10.6% total rare earth oxides (TREO), averaging 4.2% TREO (NdPr average = 0.86%). The iron content in these rocks averaged 28% Fe and the manganese averaged 5.6% Mn.
• Sulima West has been intersected by ten large exploration trenches up to 90 m in length, coinciding with a large radiometric anomaly. The trenches are understood to have been excavated during 1960 – 1961 but have not been followed up with modern exploration methods.
• Rock chip sampling of the 0.9 km dia. Coola carbonatite ring dyke returned values of between 0.6% and 4.9% TREO (average 2.6%). Soil geochemistry over the covered carbonatite returned values of between 0.37% and 13.18% TREO (average 3.21%).
• Mineralogical studies of the Coola carbonatite identified the rare earth mineral to be bastnäsite, which occurs as discrete veins, veinlets, and segregations within the carbonatite.
• Soil geochemistry over the fluorite-rich zone at Coola identified an area of 13 000 m2 with average fluorite values of 17% calcium flouride (CaF2).

Exploration Manager, Grant Hayward, commented: “We are extremely encouraged by the initial results from both Coola and Sulima West and are eager for the field season to commence to follow up on these exciting targets. Whilst it is early stage, these are very large structures reporting grades which are in some cases higher than those for Longonjo. There are several radiometric anomalies and ring structures still to be evaluated, and we very much look forward to further exploration in 2022 with the easing of COVID related travel restrictions.”

Exploration results include significant TREO values from the rock chip and soil sampling programmes completed in 2021 on Pensana’s Coola prospecting license (No. 059/02/01/T) in Huambo Province, central Angola.

Field activities in 3Q21 focused primarily on the Coola carbonatite, which showed encouraging rare earth element (REE) scandium (Sc) and fluorite mineralisation, following the initial 2020 sampling programme. Subsequent follow-up work thereon included detailed geological mapping, soil and rock chip sampling, and augering of the central soil covered diatreme.

During this period, a visit was conducted at the Sulima West target, a radiometric anomaly located approximately 50 km northwest of Coola, where a series of historic trenches and pits had been identified. Initial sampling of some of these trenches was completed during this visit.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/12042022/pensana-provides-coola-exploration-programme-results-update/