Step 1Target
Map pegmatite outcrops from ASTER imagery and rank them by prospectivity across every tenement.
About
A focused, technically-led explorer in a district mined for tin since the 1930s
Sable Ridge Metals is dedicated to developing mining projects in highly prospective regions of Africa. Our portfolio sits in the Mwenda Belt, an area rich in LCT (lithium–caesium–tantalum) pegmatite intrusions where tin has been produced from artisanal and small-scale workings since the 1930s.
We hold four tenements totalling 9,780 hectares, from the fully-permitted Kalimba Project in the south to the 6,050-hectare Broad Valley licence in the north-east. Our approach combines modern remote sensing (ASTER satellite surveys), systematic surface sampling and the deep local knowledge of a team that has worked in the region's mining industry for decades.
All projects are reached from the main national highway, with a graded district road giving primary access. We prioritise local employment, training and infrastructure, and work in partnership with the chiefs and communities on whose land we operate.
At a glance
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
- Operations
- Southern Africa
- Geology
- LCT pegmatites, pegmatitic granites, metamorphic gneiss
- Access
- National highway; graded district road
How we work
- Satellite (ASTER) targeting followed by systematic pitting and soil sampling
- Earn-in partnership with the local community at Misika
- Local employment, training and road infrastructure
- Permitting-first: environmental approval before development
Strategy
From artisanal workings to a modern tin and tantalum producer
Step 2Prove
Pit, sample and assay the highest-ranked targets; confirm grade and mineralogy with independent laboratories.
Step 3Permit
Secure environmental approval and mining licences with community agreements in place.
Step 4Produce
Start tantalum and tin production at the licensed Kalimba project, then grow resources and life of mine through exploration.
History
Ninety years of tin, three years of modern exploration
- 1930s
Tin first worked in the Mwenda Belt
Artisanal and small-scale miners begin producing tin from pegmatites across the district.
- 2023
Sable Ridge Metals incorporated in London
Company formed to consolidate and develop tin and lithium pegmatite licences in Southern Africa.
- Jul 2024
Kalimba environmental approval
Environmental agency approves the Kalimba Project.
- Sep 2024
New exploration licence granted
380-hectare licence immediately north-east of Kalimba, with 40 pegmatite targets.
- Oct 2024
Up to 8.5% Li₂O at Kalimba
Rock-chip sampling confirms high-grade lithium with montebrasite, spodumene and lepidolite.
- 2025
Nsanje Hill access road restored
25 km road reopened to the project, enabling year-round access.
- Oct 2025
Ten-year mining licence at Kalimba
Kalimba moves from exploration to permitted development.
Responsibility
Operating with the communities whose land we work on
Local employment
Local hire for road construction, pitting, sampling and other field work, with ongoing training so local people can build careers with the company.
Infrastructure that lasts
About 30km of road rehabilitated to reach the project areas — built by local people and directly benefiting around 27,000 of them.
Health and safety
Every employee and contractor receives proper personal protective equipment, with a safe and secure working environment across our sites.
Water for communities
As part of our social commitments, First Africa Metals will install water boreholes for local communities.
Meet the people behind the projects
A board and technical team with decades of experience in African mining, finance and governance.