# Tsodilo Resources Reports BITRI, UCT and Battelle Results at Gcwihaba Metals Project > Tsodilo Resources reported a 1,794 ppm rare earth sample from BITRI and a completed Battelle AI model. - Published: 2026-10-19T04:39:09+00:00 - Section: Partnerships - Author: News Desk - URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-19/tsodilo-gcwihaba-rare-earth-collaborations - Source: [FinancialContent Business Page](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/newsfile-2026-10-19-tsodilo-resources-ltd-advances-in-multiple-strategic-collaborations-botswana-institute-for-technology-research-and-innovation-university-of-cape-town-and-battelle-memorial-institute-on-efforts-to-advance-critical-minerals-and-rare-eart) ## Key takeaways - BITRI's analysis of four C27 drill-core samples returned 85 to 1,794 ppm total rare earth elements plus yttrium, with the highest result in sample TREE-C27-6-119. - UCT's QEMSCAN study found cerium-rich allanite is the principal rare earth host, reaching 26-27% by weight in the main zone of drillhole 1822C27_6. - Battelle completed a first-stage AI model trained on Tsodilo's Gcwihaba exploration database to help rank REE-anomalous drillholes. [Tsodilo Resources](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000522e/tsodilo-resources) Ltd. reported on October 19, 2026 that its research alliances with BITRI, the University of Cape Town and [Battelle](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002h81/battelle) Memorial Institute have produced preliminary results at its 100% owned Gcwihaba Metals Project in northwest [Botswana](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000zm2j/botswana-institute-for-technology-research-and-innovation), including a drill-core sample grading 1,794 ppm total rare earth elements plus yttrium. The [FinancialContent Business Page](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/newsfile-2026-10-19-tsodilo-resources-ltd-advances-in-multiple-strategic-collaborations-botswana-institute-for-technology-research-and-innovation-university-of-cape-town-and-battelle-memorial-institute-on-efforts-to-advance-critical-minerals-and-rare-eart) published the update. ## What BITRI Found in the C27 Skarn Samples BITRI's Centre for Material Science completed a preliminary geochemical and mineralogical characterization of four selected drill-core samples from the C27 skarn, following the collaborative research initiative announced May 4, 2026. The samples were TREE-C27-2-103 at 147.10 m, TREE-C27-2-107 at 159.50 m and TREE-C27-2-110 at 165.65 m from drillhole 1822C27_2, and TREE-C27-6-119 at 159.80 m from drillhole 1822C27_6. Analyses were performed at BITRI's Gaborone laboratories using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Sample TREE-C27-6-119 returned the highest result of the four, at 1,794 ppm total rare earth elements plus yttrium, or 0.18% on an elemental basis, including 403 ppm critical rare earths. Results across the four samples ranged from 85 to 1,794 ppm, and all four showed strong light-rare-earth-enriched patterns. The magnetite-rich sample TREE-C27-2-103 returned the peak copper value of 948 ppm and cobalt value of 184 ppm, while calc-silicate sample TREE-C27-2-107 recorded chromium of 368 ppm as Cr2O3. Silver was detected in all four samples, from 4.8 to 11.5 ppm. ## UCT Identifies Cerium-Rich Allanite as REE Host A University of Cape Town research team completed a preliminary mineralogical study of C27 drill core using micro-X-ray fluorescence element mapping and QEMSCAN automated mineral mapping. QEMSCAN was run on eleven sections, seven from drillhole 1822C27_6 and four from 1822C27_2, and four of these were also mapped by micro-XRF. Both techniques indicated that cerium-rich allanite is the principal rare earth host. In the main zone of 1822C27_6, Ce-allanite made up 26-27% by weight of the minerals identified, occurring as coarse crystals several millimeters long, while in two weakly mineralized sections it was below 0.2%. Apatite made up no more than 2.8% of any section analyzed. Tsodilo said the findings will help guide core logging and sampling in its upcoming planned drill program. ## Battelle Completes First-Stage AI Model Battelle completed a first-stage artificial-intelligence model trained on Tsodilo's Gcwihaba exploration database, integrating drillhole geochemistry with regional gravity, magnetic and electromagnetic survey data. The model is intended to support identification of REE-anomalous drillholes, and in Battelle's internal testing it performed at a level comparable to a standard benchmark approach. Tsodilo intends to incorporate the model's output into ranking exploration target areas for follow-up exploration and future targeted drilling campaigns. ## Tsodilo's Funding and Gcwihaba Scale According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Tsodilo has four funding rounds on record, including a March 2026 post-IPO equity round of $657,193 and a February 2026 round of $544,174. The same records list an exploration target of 81-97 million tonnes at grades of 0.05%-1.49% TREO at the Gcwihaba Metals Project. Tsodilo's Chairman and CEO, James M. Bruchs, said: "We are very encouraged by how these three collaborations now work together across the Gcwihaba exploration value chain, from the minerals in the rocks to the drill targets." ## Critical Mineral Partnerships Elsewhere Odisha Mining Corporation and AMD signed an MoU to explore critical minerals in Odisha, focusing on research, capacity-building and advanced exploration technologies, [The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/omc-amd-ink-mou-for-critical-mineral-exploration-in-odisha/articleshow/134944784.cms) reported on October 14, 2026. NioBay Metals is seeking financial partners to advance its Crevier niobium-tantalum project in Quebec, aiming for first production in the early 2030s, [MINING.COM](https://www.mining.com/niobay-seeks-partners-to-advance-crevier-project-in-quebec/) reported on October 7, 2026. ## Companies in this story - [Tsodilo Resources company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000522e/tsodilo-resources) · website: http://www.tsodiloresources.com - [Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000zm2j/botswana-institute-for-technology-research-and-innovation) · website: https://www.bitri.co.bw - [Battelle company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002h81/battelle) · website: http://www.battelle.org --- News for Agent · https://newsforagent.com/llms.txt