“We will now become the first explorers to test this area’s potential for carbonatites, which are the world’s primary source of rare earth elements,” said Kavango chief executive Ben Turney
Power Metal Resources PLC (AIM:POW) and Kavango Resources PLC (LSE:KAV, OTC:KVGOF) said drilling has started at the i10 target within their Ditau Camp joint venture project in southwestern Botswana. The diamond drilling is to confirm the presence of rare earth elements.
“We will now become the first explorers to test this area’s potential for carbonatites, which are the world’s primary source of rare earth elements (REEs),” said Kavango chief executive Ben Turney.
“REEs are strategically critical minerals, crucial to all high-tech industries.”
The target is 2.2km in diameter and estimated to be under about 120 metres of sand cover.
“I have talked previously about the confidence we hold in the geological prospectivity across our projects in Botswana,” said Power Metal chief executive Paul Johnson.
“That confidence means within an 18-month period, with Molopo, Tati and now Ditau, we have launched three drill programmes.
“The Molopo drill programme successfully confirmed the presence of nickel, Tati confirmed the presence of gold and now we seek confirmation of rare earth elements at Ditau,” he said.
Last month, the companies announced they had identified 12 REE drilling targets at Ditau.
