REG - Altona Rare Earths - Heavy Rare Earths Identified at Monte Muambe

Altona Rare EarthsAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 2811A  Altona Rare Earths PLC  14 April 2026

14 April 2026

 

 

ALTONA RARE EARTHS PLC

("Altona" or "the Company")

 

Heavy Rare Earths enrichment identified in Monte Muambe fluorspar ore

 

Altona (LSE: REE), a resource exploration and development company focused on
critical raw materials in Africa, is pleased to announce the identification of
Heavy Rare Earths Elements ("HREE") enrichment in the Monte Muambe fluorspar
and gallium ore, a possible additional value driver for this project.

 

As part of the on-going fluorspar and gallium Mineral Resource Estimate
("MRE") preparation, the Company has assayed control samples for a broad range
of trace elements, including rare earths. These samples comprise blended ore
from the Python target containing 31% CaF(2) and 108 g/t Ga(2)O(3).

 

Assay results show that these samples contain approximately:

·    3,200 ppm Total Rare Earths Oxide ("TREO")((1))

·    1,300 ppm Heavy Rare Earths Oxide ("HREO")((2))

 

This corresponds to a HREO/TREO ratio of 40%, significantly higher than that
of the Monte Muambe rare earths deposit (Target 1 and Target 4), which hosts a
JORC-compliant MRE of 13.6 million tons at 2.42% TREO and is predominantly
enriched in light rare earths such as neodymium and praseodymium, with a
HREO/TREO ratio of approximately 5%((3)).

 

Notably, individual heavy rare earths concentrations in the Monte Muambe
fluorspar and gallium ore sample are of a similar order of magnitude to those
reported in the resource statement of the Lofdal (Namibia) heavy rare earths
project((4)), which development is supported by JOGMEC (Japanese Government)
and Toyota Tusho.

 

Strategic Significance

 

Heavy rare earths, including dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium, are classified
as critical minerals due to their essential role in enhancing the performance
of neodymium magnets, particularly those used in high-performance
applications. They are also key components in advanced electronics, medical
devices, and data storage systems. Importantly, high performance military
technologies are heavily reliant on heavy rare earths, with no substitution
options. Heavy rare earths production is currently concentrated in China.

 

Compared to light rare earths, heavy rare earths are significantly scarcer,
carry a higher structural supply risk, and are therefore of higher strategic
importance.

 

While further work is required to determine the extent, distribution and
recoverability of heavy rare earths from the fluorspar ore, their presence
highlights the potential for an additional high-value by-product, alongside
gallium, within the Monte Muambe fluorspar project. Additionally, the
discovery strengthens the Company's positioning and leverage with respect to
current cooperation with the US government, through USTDA, and its US-oriented
development strategy.

 

Next Steps

 

In light of the above, the Company has already initiated the following
workstreams:

·    Mineralogical studies to identify the host phases of the heavy rare
earths;

·    Updated fluorspar metallurgical testing workflow to assess the heavy
rare earths deportment during fluorspar flotation and evaluate the potential
for integration into the fluorspar processing flowsheet;

·    Expanded assaying of samples from the 2025 fluorspar drilling
campaign to include rare earths, with a view to potentially incorporating
heavy rare earths into a future MRE update.

 

The Company confirms that this additional work will not impact the timeline
for publication of the fluorspar and gallium MRE. Any inclusion of heavy rare
earths in the MRE will be considered in a subsequent update once sufficient
data has been generated.

 

Cedric Simonet, CEO, commented: "The identification of a heavy rare earth
enrichment within the Monte Muambe fluorspar ore is an exciting development,
given the scarcity and strategic importance of these elements, and will
potentially materialise as an additional value driver to this project.

 

"Our immediate focus is to better understand the mineralogical characteristics
and metallurgical behaviour of these elements, with a view to determining
whether they can be economically recovered as part of the fluorspar processing
flowsheet.

 

"If successful, this could further enhance the project's value proposition and
strategic relevance, particularly in the light of our ongoing engagement with
the US government and with participants in the US rare earths supply chain."

 

Notes

 

(1)  TREO is the sum of all rare earths plus yttrium, expressed as oxide.

(2)  HREO is the sum of rare earths ranging from samarium to lutecium plus
yttrium, expressed as oxide.

(3)  While all rare earths were assayed for the preparation of the
JORC-compliant rare earths MRE, terbium and dysprosium are the only heavy rare
earths which were estimated. The HREO/TREO ratio for the Monte Muambe rare
earths project was therefore calculated using the rare earths concentrations
averages from the assay database, weighted by intercept length and using a cut
off of 1% TREO.

(4)  NI43-101 Technical Report on the Lofdal Heavy Rare Earths Project 2B-4,
Preliminary Feasibility Study, Namibia, prepared for Namibia Critical Metals
Inc by SGS North America Inc., 12 January 2026.

 

-ends-

 

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Altona Rare Earths Plc

Cédric Simonet, CEO                                                +44 (0) 7778 866 108 (cs@altonare.com)

Louise Adrian,
CFO
                   +44 (0) 7721 492 922 (la@altonare.com)

 

Strand Hanson (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 has received a US$
1.875 million grant from USTDA 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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