AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX:AVZ) has fielded further widespread, high-grade spodumene lithium mineralisation in mineral resource drilling at the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Strong assay results have been received from the fourth consignment of five diamond drill holes in the Roche Dure North-East Extension drilling program.
Strong results
These include 308.12 metres at 1.53% lithium oxide (Li2O) and 731 parts per million (ppm) tin from hole MO22DD015 as well as a thicker high grade zone of 72 metres grading 2.07% Li2O and 236ppm tin in hole MO22DD021.
There were 105 samples that returned values greater than 2% Li2O including seven individual samples that graded greater than 3%.
The highest value was from hole MO22DD021 from 131 to 133 metres downhole that graded 3.55% Li2O.
Complements previous results
AVZ’s managing director Nigel Ferguson said: “This next tranche of drilling results complements nicely the previous results with a mix of wide consistent mineralisation, such as that in hole MO22DD015, along with areas of depressed zones, subject to late-stage alteration with lower lithium values as well as pods of higher-grade sections, such as in hole MO22DD021.
“Specialist geotechnical logging of selected drill holes has been completed by Johannesburg-based company Middindi Consulting and core samples taken for a suite of specialist analyses, to assist in the design of future open pit wall angles.”
Broad intersections
Within the 308.12-metre intersection in MO22DD015 were 22 metres from 36 metres at 2.01% Li2O and 1135ppm tin, 16 metres from 112 metres at 2.07% Li2O and 603ppm tin, 6 metres from 205 metres at 2.4% Li2O and 526ppm tin, and 14 metres from 302 metres at 1.97% Li2O and 754ppm tin.
The 72-metre intersection from 203 metres in hole MO22DD021 was within 266.66 metres from 72.04 metres at 1.72% Li2O and 379ppm tin. This also included 26 metres from 131 metres at 1.99% Li2O and 430ppm tin and 18 metres from 313 metres at 2.20% Li2O and 205ppm tin.
There was another 71.54-metre intersection from 339.21 metres in that hole that graded 0.82% Li2O and 525ppm tin.
Other results from the diamond drilling are:
- 82.04 metres from 103.96 metres at 1.10% Li2O and 390ppm tin, 132 metres from 186 metres at 0.28% Li2O and 245ppm tin, 63.09 metres from 318 metres at 1.2% Li2O and 297ppm tin, and 8.55 metres from 436 metres at 0.57% Li2O and 672ppm tin;
- 16 metres from 7.7 metres at 0.07% Li2O and 346ppm tin, 176.3 metres from 23.7 metres at 1.67% Li2O and 898ppm tin, including 16 metres from 49 metres at 2.13% Li2O and 837ppm tin, 28 metres from 95 metres at 2.1% Li2O and 866ppm tin, and 10 metres from 171 metres at 1.99.0% Li2O and 772ppm tin; and
- 6.5 metres from 1.2 metres at 0.21% Li2O and 1,756ppm tin, and 80.03 metres from 7.7 metres at 0.88% Li2O and 858ppm tin.
About Manono
The company holds a 75% interest in the Manono Project, 500 kilometres north of Lubumbashi in the south of the DRC, hosting the world-class Roche Dure mineral resource, one of the largest undeveloped hard rock lithium deposits in the world.
Manono is strategically positioned as a clean, sustainable source of lithium, significantly contributing to the green energy transition, feeding the global lithium-ion battery value chain. With industry-leading ESG credentials, it is forecast to be one of the lowest carbon-emitting hard rock mines in the world.