Deep drilling for high-grade niobium underway at Aldoro’s Kameelburg project

• Phase 2 drilling targets deeper Kameelburg high-grade niobium zones with new 750m-capable rig
• Ground magnetic survey at Omuronga reveals 1.4km magnetic anomaly similar to Kameelburg
• Updated Kameelburg resource estimated expected in Q4 2025
• Upcoming Omuronga program to target HREE and map REE enrichment zones
• Assays confirmed 40 soil samples with HREE and Nd+Pr making up 18% and 26% of total REE

Special Report: Aldoro Resources has kicked off second phase diamond drilling that seeks to build on recent high-grade niobium results – grading up to 4.14% – at its Kameelburg REE and niobium project in Namibia.

The program of up to 14 holes totalling ~9000m is being carried out by the new Nock 800 rig that is capable of drilling holes up to 750m deep.

This enables Aldoro Resources (ASX:ARN) to test deeper, high-grade niobium zones along the western margin of the Kameelburg intrusion.

Last month, the company upgraded resources at the project by 85% to 520.61Mt at 2.49% total rare earth oxide equivalent including a high-grade zone of 271Mt at 2.90% TREO Eq at a 1% TREO cut-off as well as 231.59Mt at 0.24% niobium.

Kameelburg compares favourably with Canada’s famed Niobec Saint-Honoré carbonatite, but with higher grades, favourable geology and clear development advantages that highlight its strong value potential.

The Namibian project is also larger and near surface, unlike the 640Mt at 0.41% niobium and 1.63% TREO Saint-Honoré, which sits on a much smaller 40-hectare footprint buried under 100m of limestone and overburden.

“At Kameelburg, the new high-capacity diamond rig will enable us to test the high-grade Niobium zones identified by our geological model,” chairperson Quinn Li said.

“This exciting development could elevate Kameelburg into the upper echelon of global REE-Nb deposits. 

“It is our expectation that following the completion to the Phase II drilling campaign at Kameelburg will achieve two outcomes being the definition of a large Niobium deposit with good grade and a significant increase in the REE resource model with the expectation that this resource move from inferred to predominantly indicated.”

Omuronga project

At the nearby Omuronga project, the company has completed a ground magnetic survey that identified a 1.4km diameter magnetic anomaly comparable in scale to Kameelburg.

To top it off, the weathered carbonatite at Omuronga, which is interpreted to host ionic-style heavy rare earths, has been mapped to depths of 100-150m

Li said the completion of the ground magnetic survey marked another key milestone in its systematic exploration of the Omuronga.

“The anomaly’s geometry, coupled with the depth of weathering, supports our dual exploration strategy targeting both ionic and carbonatite-hosted REE mineralisation. 

“We are particularly encouraged by the similarities in scale between Omuronga and our flagship Kameelburg carbonatite complex.”

The upcoming exploration program is designed to target heavy rare earth elements within the Omuronga tenement, while also assessing the distribution and enrichment of light and heavy REE zones across the broader carbonatite system.

Assays have confirmed elevated REE signatures with 40 soil samples collected demonstrating the heavy REE and Nd+Pr account for 18% and 26% of the total REE respectively.

Integration of geological, geochemical, and geophysical data will help define priority drill targets aimed at expanding the HREE resource footprint.

Next steps

Besides the phase 2 program that is underway, ARN also expects to deliver an updated resource estimate for Kameelburg in Q4 2025.

Over at Omuronga, the company will complete soil sampling and analysis.

It will then integrate magnetic and geochemical data for ongoing target refinement that will lead to the drilling of up to eight diamond holes.

This article was developed in collaboration with Aldoro Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.