Mbeya Rare Earth Elements

The project is located in the Mbeya region of south-western Tanzania, approximately 680 km west of Dar es Salaam. The industrial city of Mbeya is only 26 km away, near the main highway and close to Songwe Airport.

SF Resources' REE properties — PL/20524, PL/20468 and PL/20494/2022 — total 35.5 sq. km and sit close to the Sengeri and Panda Hill carbonatites, reported to host REE, apatite and fluorite.

Niobium is the rare earth element associated with carbonatite intrusive rocks. Economic REEs require 2–6% niobium; the minimum mineable grade is 0.3%. SFRL grab samples assayed 0.6% Nb.

REEs are used in hybrid cars, energy-saving bulbs, LCD screens, solar panels and special magnetic materials. Over 80% of world niobium production goes into special steel and high-performance alloys.

The Sengeri Hill carbonatite comprises two main dykes trending NE-SW of dolomitic carbonatite. The advanced Panda Hill project (178 Mt @ 0.5% Nb2O5) lies to the east and SW of the properties.

Due to its use in defense and aerospace, niobium is considered a 'strategic metal' by governments including the USA, UK and Russia.

Excellent nearby infrastructure: TAZARA rail line (2 km), a dry port in Mbeya (26 km), the Dar es Salaam–Tunduma highway (0.3 km), Songwe Airport (8 km) and the La Farge Songwe cement factory (6 km). The Songwe River runs next to the tenements and TANESCO plans a new 400 kV power line past the area.