AuKing advances Tundulu rare earth drilling in Malawi
The 15,000m maiden diamond drilling programme is targeting the depth extent of Tundulu’s carbonatite system and will support future resource definition
AuKing Mining is advancing exploration at its Tundulu Rare Earth Project in southern Malawi, with the company reporting that its 15,000m maiden diamond drilling programme is now underway.
The drilling follows the company’s recent acquisition of the Machinga Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) Project in Malawi, further expanding AuKing’s exposure to the country’s emerging rare earths sector.
The Tundulu programme is designed to test the depth continuity of the project’s carbonatite system, with particular focus on Nathace Hill. Two deep diamond holes are planned to reach approximately 500m each as the company seeks to better understand the system below the historically drilled areas.
Tundulu is located in the Phalombe District of south-eastern Malawi and covers about 91.5km². The project hosts a 7.5km carbonatite ring complex comprising several topographic highs, including Nathace Hill, Tundulu Hill, Makhanga Hill, Namuka Hill and Ichigwakalu Hill.
Nathace Hill has been the focus of previous exploration, but AuKing says historical drilling has tested only a limited portion of the broader system. Previous drilling included 27 diamond holes completed by JICA in 1987 and a further 55 holes drilled between 2014 and 2015. Several historical holes ended in mineralisation, indicating potential for the system to extend at depth.
AuKing’s current drilling is therefore intended to provide a clearer picture of the mineralised system and assist the company in determining its scale and continuity.
“Diamond core samples will also support preliminary metallurgical and mineralogical testwork, providing critical data for an initial Mineral Resource Estimate at Tundulu,” AuKing said.
The company is targeting completion of the initial Mineral Resource Estimate in late 2026 or early 2027, during Malawi’s local wet season.
The drilling campaign builds on an airborne magnetics and LiDAR survey completed by AuKing earlier this year. The survey covered the broader carbonatite complex and was designed to improve the understanding of the subsurface intrusive architecture and structural controls on rare earth element mineralisation, helping to refine drill targets.
Beyond Nathace Hill, AuKing has identified further exploration potential across the Tundulu complex. Its project information notes that four of the five identified topographic highs remain largely untested by drilling, despite evidence of carbonatite geology and anomalous surface geochemistry.
The company’s exploration push comes as Malawi attracts increasing interest for rare earth elements and other critical minerals, with projects such as Tundulu contributing to the country’s growing position in the emerging African rare earths sector.
