Altona Rare Earths - Monte Muambe Fluorspar And Gallium Update
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
RNS Number : 0172F
Altona Rare Earths PLC
28 October 2025
28 October 2025
ALTONA RARE EARTHS PLC
("Altona" or the "Company")
MONTE MUAMBE FLUORSPAR AND GALLIUM OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Altona Rare Earths PLC (LSE: REE), a resource exploration and development company focused
on critical raw materials in Africa, is pleased to provide an operational update on the Monte
Muambe fluorspar and gallium project in Mozambique.
Highlights
· High success rate for fluorine in soil assay results, with the discovery of three new
fluorspar targets
· 45% of diamond drilling core samples extracted so far show visible fluorspar mineralisation
· Significant gallium mineralisation encountered at the Python target, with grades of up to
1,154 g/t Ga
· Expansion of the drilling programme to include the newly discovered fluorspar and
additional drilling at Python
Three new fluorspar targets discovered
Altona is pleased to announce that it has received 231 out of 281 fluorine assay results from the
soil samples submitted to SGS South Africa. The samples were selected for fluorine analysis
based on their high gallium content (>60 ppm Ga), in line with Altona's proven exploration strategy
of using gallium as a tracer for high-grade fluorspar.
Results show that 38% of these samples have fluorine concentrations in excess of 5,000 ppm
(equivalent to >10% CaF2), underpinning a very high success rate.
Results received so far have allowed Altona to define three new targets: Jambire, Jambire Mn and
Kudu. Ground proofing has confirmed the presence of fluorspar float and outcrops at each target.
This justifies further investigation through trenching and drilling. The 2025 drilling programme is
currently being amended and expanded to include these targets following such encouraging
results.
Figure 1 - Fluorspar ore bodies and targets at Monte Muambe
Drilling Update: Visible fluorspar in 45% of core samples extracted to date
To date, the Company has completed approximately 600 meters of diamond drilling. Core samples
will be split in order to produce representative sub-samples, which will be sent to specific
laboratories for geochemical assays and metallurgical testing. The Company will use the services
of laboratories located in neighbouring South Africa, thus significantly reducing sample logistics
timelines compared to previous drilling campaigns.
As in previous campaigns, samples are also being routinely assayed using the Company's pXRF
analyser. While pXRF analysers cannot assay for fluorine, or indeed fluorspar, fluorspar can be
visually identified in the samples, and its presence recorded during logging.
Approximately 45% (by length) of drilled cores extracted so far show visible fluorspar. Final grades
will be confirmed through laboratory assays.
The Company's pXRF analyser, however, has previously proven invaluable in providing first pass
Ce, La, Nd and Y assays and in guiding day-to-day decisions on drilling and sampling. It is
currently being used in the same manner for Ga assays. Unprepared cores are assayed at 20 cm
intervals along the entire length of each hole.
So far, pXRF results at the Python Target, located on the southern edge of the Monte Muambe
carbonite, have confirmed the presence of consistent intervals with gallium mineralisation.
Significant intercepts from holes MM114, MM115, and MM116 are summarised in the table below.
These intercepts also show visible fluorspar mineralisation.
Hole
number
Interval Gallium (g/t)
average and max
MM114 Surface to 15.15m 98.64 (max 542)
MM114 48.10 to 51.13m 98.56 (max 229)
MM115 Surface to 15.79m 65.26 (max 570)
MM116 10, 12, 17m depth Narrow veins, max 1,154
Table 1 - Significant gallium intercepts from holes MM114, MM115, MM116
Additional drilling is being planned at the Python target to explore the extent of gallium and
fluorspar mineralisation along strike.
Ongoing Research Work on Gallium Distribution
The Company has received microXRF maps of gallium-fluorspar mineralisation from the University
of Exeter, where PhD student Jamie Church is currently studying the geology and metallogeny of
the Monte Muambe carbonatite, under the supervision of Dr Sam Broom-Fendley. This research
provides an invaluable insight into gallium distribution in fluorspar ore and, with other mineralogy
study tools, will contribute to guide future gallium recovery metallurgical studies.
Figure 2 - MicroXRF map of a fenite sample from Monte Muambe, showing gallium-enriched
feldspar (yellow) adjacent to fluorspar mineralisation.
Cédric Simonet, CEO of Altona, commented:
"Our Monte Muambe exploration team is tirelessly running several parallel work streams aimed at
increasing the resource base of the fluorspar project and defining a potential gallium resource in
the process. I am very pleased with the progress achieved on the ground, in particular the
discovery and ground-truthing of 3 new fluorspar targets.
A further update will be provided to investors once sample batches start being exported for assay
and metallurgical testing."
Notes on assay methods:
Core samples were assayed on site using the Company's pXRF analyser. Altona uses a Hitachi X-
Met8000 pXRF analyser equipped with a 50kv anode and specific programmes to enable the
detection and quantification of Nd, Pr, La, Ce, Y and Ga, as well as of light elements relevant to
carbonatites and fenites such as K, Mg, Al, and Si. Assays were performed directly on the core, at
20cm intervals, and in accordance with the Company's Standard Operating Procedures. All
samples are assayed by a trained technician under standard conditions using both the light
elements programme (30s assay time) and the rare earths programme (60s assay time). Regular
quality control checks and calibration are done using a SiO2 blank and various internal standards
and certified reference materials with known rare earths and gallium content.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms
part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as
amended by virtue of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
To subscribe for RNS alerts, please visit: https://investors.altonare.com/
-ends-
Altona Rare Earths Plc
Cédric Simonet, CEO +44 (0) 7778 866 108
Louise Adrian, CFO +44 (0) 7721 492 922
Strand Hanson Limited (Financial Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494
Christopher Raggett
Imogen Ellis
Zeus Capital (Corporate Broker) +44 (0) 20 3829 5000
Simon Johnson
James Hornigold
About Altona Rare Earths Plc
Altona Rare Earths Plc (ticker: REE) is a London Main Market-listed exploration and
development company focused on unlocking the value of critical raw materials across Africa. The
Company is pursuing a diversified strategy, targeting assets with potential for near-term
monetisation alongside long-term growth.
The multi-commodity Monte Muambe Project in northwest Mozambique is a highly prospective
tenement hosting rare earths, fluorspar, and gallium mineralisation. Since acquiring the project in
June 2021, Altona has drilled over 7,800 metres, delivering a maiden JORC Mineral Resource
Estimate of 13.6Mt at 2.42% TREO, secured a 25-year mining licence (granted December 2024),
and published a Competent Person Report and scoping study for the rare earths component of
the project (October 2023). The Company is actively engaging with the US Government, through
USTDA, as a possible strategic partner to advance the rare earths project through the
prefeasibility stage.
In parallel, Altona is progressing plans to fast-track the development of high-grade fluorspar
veins identified along the western and southern margins of Monte Muambe, with a targeted
production of 50,000 tonnes per annum of acid-grade fluorspar over a minimum 12-year mine
life. Acid-grade fluorspar is a key input in a wide range of applications, including hydrofluoric
acid, lithium battery electrolyte production, and nuclear fuel refining, placing Altona in a strong
position to supply this critical material.
The discovery of gallium mineralisation, with grades up to 550 g/t identified to date, adds further
value to Monte Muambe. The Company has established that gallium will be concentrated in
fluorspar production tailings and is assessing its possible recovery as a by-product of fluorspar.
Altona's diversified portfolio also includes the Sesana Copper-Silver Project in Botswana,
strategically located just 25 km from MMG's Khoemacau Zone 5 copper-silver mine. Situated on
a recognised regional contact zone for copper deposits, Sesana represents a compelling
exploration opportunity aligned with Altona's growth strategy.
With a unique combination of critical raw materials projects, Altona is well positioned to
contribute to the global supply of highly sought commodities essential for clean energy, high
technology, defence and industrial applications.
The Company and the Board remain actively focused on identifying and evaluating additional
projects that align with our investment profile and strategic objectives, leveraging our extensive
network and combined industry experience to uncover compelling opportunities that can drive
long-term growth.
Competent Person Statement
The information in this RNS that relates to geology and exploration results is based on information
compiled and/or reviewed by Cédric Simonet, who is a Member of European Geologist Federation
(Eur. Geol. #739). Cédric Simonet is the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company.
He has sufficient experience which is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposit
under consideration and the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person in
terms of the 2012 Edition of the Australian Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves. Cédric Simonet consents to the inclusion in the RNS of the matters
based on his information in the form and contest in which it appears.
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