Chilwa Minerals Limited, a mining firm conducting explorations in Mpyupyu Hill around Lake Chilwa in Zomba District, says it has discovered niobium in addition to other minerals, positioning the area as one of the country’s mineral rich sites.
The discovery of niobium adds a separate dimension to the overall project, which already discovered valuable heavy mineral sands, among other mineral elements, according to the company’s update.
“Importantly, the nature and consistency of niobium grades in Mpyupyu confirms the presence of a niobium-enriched intrusive phase over 120 metres downhole thickness in extent,” the miner’s update reads in part.
Chilwa Minerals Limited managing director Cadell Buss is quoted in the update as having described the niobium discovery as another significant milestone in the evolution of the company.
He said: “My congratulations to the team on the ground for this achievement. We have essentially started with a conceptual target about six months ago and are now moving through systematic follow up drilling, albeit for niobium rather than rare earth elements.”
Buss said the firm has taken the decision to fund additional drilling to identify the extent of mineralisation and focus on the definition of a niobium resource.
In an interview on Sunday, geoscience expert Ignatius Kamwanje said the progress is encouraging, but added that more exploration needs to be done to establish the volumes.
Chambers of Mines and Energy national coordinator Grain Malunga said the project has just started exploration, adding that the actual value will be known at feasibility study.
