Askari Metals identifies high-grade tin and tantalum opportunity at Uis project in Namibia

Askari Metals (ASX: AS2) has been rewarded for its focus on low-cost, high-impact exploration at its Uis project in Namibia with the identification of significant tin and tantalum mineralisation at the site.

The company had elected to reduce the size of its Uis team to focus on reviewing historical data and identifying high-confidence trenching and priority drilling targets.

This review has now highlighted exceptionally high-grade tin, tantalum and rubidium mineralisation including 3.17% tin oxide and 5,226 parts per million tantalum.

Sampling results

Mapping and rock chip sampling at the Kestrel pegmatite target has also demonstrated high-grade mineralisation with values up to 0.38% tin oxide and 672ppm tantalum.

Director Gino D’Anna said Uis is fast emerging as a serious strategic asset for the company owing to its location along strike from the operating Uis tin mine.

“Historical exploration at the Uis project has demonstrated significant high grades of mineralisation including tin, tantalum and rubidium, comparable with the results outlined by our neighbour Andrada Mining,” Mr D’Anna said.

“Despite sharing the same geology as the nearby Uis tin mine, this is the first time the company has evaluated the potential of the Uis project to host significant tin and tantalum mineralisation.”

Market opportunities

Tin is currently in strong demand and trading at US$31,275 per tonne, while analysts forecast the global tantalum market to grow at a compound annual rate of approximately 5.88% to around $126.4 million by 2030.

Mr D’Anna said that, with tin at that price, the opportunity to follow up on previous exploration designed to develop the project’s tin potential was too good for Askari to ignore.

“These results demonstrate the significant exploration potential of the project area,” he added.

Forward work plans

Askari is planning to conduct further exploration aimed at developing and expanding the known tin and tantalum mineralisation at the site.

This will feature project-wide soil geochemical sampling programs across an identified “corridor of interest” with the aim of delineating further anomalous areas.

Other activities will include detailed mapping and rock chip sampling of new targets in the permit.

The company is also considering mobilising an excavator to site for a phase 1 trenching program.