Montero Mining begins drilling at Tumbili target at Wigu Hill

Toronto-based Montero Mining and Exploration (CVE:MON) said Thursday that drilling has begun on the Tumbili Target, on the south east central side of the Wigu Hill rare earth property in Tanzania, East Africa.

The Wigu Hill property, which covers an area of 142 square kilometres, is situated in Tanzania about 170 kilometres south-west of Dar es Salaam.

Target mineralization has been traced over a 1.2 kilometre strike length,  indicating the potential for a large-tonnage deposit, the company said. Drilling has been designed to determine the size and extent of the rare earth-bearing mineralization. 

A program of at least 12 boreholes for a total of 3,000 metres is planned for this immediate drilling program.

Preliminary reconnaissance mapping and sampling of Tumbili returned several high-grade values, with grab samples assaying between 5.8% to 18.8% total rare earth oxide (TREO). Further detailed mapping and sampling, together with a radiometric anomaly, led to the discovery of mineralization at the target.

"The Tumbili target has been identified through consistent mapping and sampling that has delineated a 1,200m by 500m surface zone of bastnaesite bearing carbonatite mineralization," said president and CEO, Tony Harwood.

"Exploration at the Tumbili target continues to build on the excellent high grade trench and drill results obtained from the Twiga and Tembo targets on which our maiden NI 43-101 resource estimate is currently in progress."

The Tumbili target is located to the east of the Tembo area, where trenching has revealed 9.27% TREO over 6.45 metres. In April, the company announced that Trench 1 at Tumbili returned 2.97% TREO over 12 metres, including values up to 7.58% TREO.

The junior miner, which is focused on exploration and development of rare earth metals, has deposits in Tanzania, Canada and South Africa.

Rare earth elements, a group of 15 metals, are critical in the advancement of emerging green technologies and high-tech applications from electric and hybrid vehicles, wind and hydro power turbines, LCD screens, MRI and x-ray machines to MP3 Players, microphones, mobile devices and more.

Montero’s chief asset is its 60% stake in Wigu Hill. It also holds interests in two other licences in Tanzania, two properties in Quebec and a phosphate exploration property in South Africa.