TSX-V-listed Tsodilo Resources has announced the verification of significant critical minerals and rare earth element (REE) mineralisation from its 100%-owned Gcwihaba Metals project, in north-west Botswana.

The C26 and C27 targets were initially identified as geophysical anomalies through ground magnetic and gravity surveys.

The company says diamond core drilling of these anomalies confirmed skarn-hosted REE mineralisation 20 m to 50 m below surface.

The company notes that skarns and other project-area-proximate targets contain a polymetallic assemblage including 15 REEs and critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, vanadium and silver.

The company says a 15 000 m drill programme will begin this year to obtain a compliant National Instrument 43-101 resource statement.

Based on integrated geophysical modelling, drilling results and geological modelling of the confirmed skarn deposits, the company notes that it has defined a conceptual exploration target ranging from 81-million to 97-million tonnes at grades between 0.05% and 1.49% total rare earth oxide (TREO).

The REE exploration target measures 4 km in length.

Chairperson and CEO James Bruchs says the 1.49% TREO intercept at C27 represents the highest grade recorded so far for Gcwihaba.

He says these results validate the company’s systematic exploration approach and demonstrate evidence of a polymetallic REE skarn system with both vertical extent and grade.

He says the company’s conceptual exploration target of 81-million to 97-million tonnes was generated through integrated magnetic and gravity geophysical modelling using a ground magnetics inversion model, constrained by drilling results and geological interpretation.

He notes that this modelling was completed in-house using Paradigm Geologic Computer Aided Design, or GOCAD, software.

“Beyond REEs, the skarn system has returned encouraging base and precious metal values, including copper up to 0.41% in the C26 skarn, cobalt up to 320 ppm and silver up to 5.1 g/t in the C27 skarn.

“The 2026 drilling programme will focus on defining high-grade REE zones while further evaluating the polymetallic potential of the system to support preparation of an initial mineral resource estimate,” says Bruchs.

Tsodilo says this represents the first systematic assessment of REE potential at the Gcwihaba metals project.