Alkaline-carbonatite igneous complexes host the world’s largest and highest grade rare earth element (REE) deposits and can also contain deposits of other critical raw materials, such as P, Nb, Ti, Zr, Sr, fluorite, and barite. They are critical for the global transition from fossil fuels towards a low-carbon society. Many aspects of these complexes remain poorly understood, particularly relating to variation in composition and structure with depth. A significant question for this project is the spatial and temporal variability in fluids associated with alkaline-carbonatite complexes, and their influence on microbial deep life and on groundwater systems. 

We propose to undertake deep drilling of the well-characterised REE-rich alkaline-carbonatite complex Songwe Hill in Malawi, to investigate how fluid-rock interactions have evolved over time to control mineralisation geometry, groundwater chemistry, and deep subsurface life, and to understand how REE-rich carbonatites, unmineralized carbonatites and associated alkaline rocks relate in depth to each other. This proposed new scientific drilling will be integrated with existing shallow cores and geophysical data provided by our industry partner, Mkango Resources, in order to understand the architecture of REE-bearing alkaline-carbonatite systems, the depth-dependent evolution of carbonatitic magmas and associated fluids, and the wider subsurface environment. 

Keywords: Africa, Malawi, Alkaline Rocks, Carbonatite, Rare Earth Elements, Groundwater, Deep Life