Kendrick advances Teufelskuppe rare earth project with new geological model and volumetric estimate
Kendrick Resources has made significant progress at its Teufelskuppe rare earth project in Namibia, moving closer to its first JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate following the completion of 90 drill holes.
The London-listed company announced that drilling so far includes 38 diamond and 52 reverse circulation (RC) holes, with ongoing infill diamond drilling across the Teufelskuppe carbonatite complex. Preliminary portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) results revealed broad zones of light rare earth oxide (LREO) mineralisation, with notable intercepts such as 20 metres at 5.08% LREO and 48 metres at 3.36% LREO.
Additional wider mineralised intervals and higher-grade sections were also reported, including a 78-metre interval at 2.81% LREO and a high-grade 6-metre section at 6.98% LREO. These results, while preliminary and based on pXRF measurements, provide important insight into the deposit’s potential.
Kendrick is leveraging this extensive drilling database to build an in-house geological model and volumetric estimate, establishing a framework for a Mineral Resource Estimate compliant with the 2012 JORC Code. Certified laboratory assays continue to be received and will be incorporated to refine the model further.
Colin Bird, Kendrick’s chairman, highlighted the project’s strengths: “The consistency of grades and continuity of mineralisation over substantial widths remain defining features of Teufelskuppe. With two drill rigs in operation, we are expanding our coverage of the multiple sills and dykes that form the carbonatite complex.” He added that the pXRF data is building confidence in the mineralisation’s distribution and grade, supported by incoming certified assay results.
This update marks a key step in transitioning Teufelskuppe from an exploration target to a formally defined mineral resource. Kendrick has previously estimated around 14 million tonnes of above-ground carbonatite mineralisation from outcrop mapping and bulk-density data, although this remains an in-house figure rather than a JORC-compliant resource.
Earlier drilling confirmed that mineralisation extends below surface exposures, prompting expanded drilling across multiple structures (TK1 to TK7). The drilling programme aims to define the subsurface geometry and dimensions of the carbonatite cone sheets and dykes, moving beyond earlier surface-based assessments.
Alongside resource definition, Kendrick is advancing metallurgical studies to explore how the rare earth minerals can be efficiently recovered. The company appointed Germany’s Anzaplan in August for early-stage metallurgical assessment and Mineral Liberation Analysis on bulk samples. Independent mineralogical analysis found that over 95% of the rare earth elements at Teufelskuppe are hosted in minerals amenable to established processing techniques.
Certified analyses also revealed average thorium and uranium concentrations of 144 ppm and 3.6 ppm respectively. These technical investigations will underpin the next phase of project evaluation.
The Teufelskuppe deposit is part of Kendrick’s broader Bonya rare earth project in Namibia, where the company holds a 70% interest under an agreement with Bonya Exploration (Pty) Ltd. covering the Teufelskuppe and nearby Kieshöhe exploration licences.
Kendrick’s integrated approach combining drilling, geological modelling, and metallurgical testing is designed to deliver the robust technical foundation required for advancing the project toward commercial development.
