Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS) is fast-tracking lithium exploration at its Andover Project in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a maiden drilling program expected to begin in late February.
This is on the back of the company’s ongoing pegmatite sampling program that continues to return very high grades of lithium, up to a maximum value of 4.87% lithium oxide (Li2O).
An initial drilling program of 30,000 metres of reverse circulation (RC) and diamond core drilling will be undertaken to determine the scale and depth potential of the mineralisation already mapped and sampled at surface.
The Andover Project is 60% owned by Azure and 40% by Creasy Group.
Outstanding lithium grades
Numerous spodumene-rich pegmatite outcrops were visually identified across Andover, where a total of 709 samples were collected last November and December.
Assay results from 109 priority samples include 85 samples grading over 1% Li2O, 73 samples grading over 2% Li20, 47 samples grading over 3% Li2O and nine samples grading over 4% Li2O.
At the AP0009 and AP0010 prospects, high-grade Li2O between 1.2% and 4.9 % was identified along outcropping pegmatites of 700 metres and 400 metres strike lengths, respectively.
Given their high grades and substantial strike lengths, these two pegmatites will be among the highest priority drill targets when drilling begins.
Assays from the remaining 600 samples are expected by the middle of next month.
Coarse-bladed spodumene in pegmatite.
Strong foundation
“We are extremely excited by these latest results which highlight the huge potential of the Andover Project to host substantial lithium resources,” Azure managing director Tony Rovira said.
“It is particularly pleasing to see these types of results given the recent announcement that global mining and chemical company SQM would invest $20 million to take a 19.99% stake in Azure, which is not only an endorsement of our strategy and the prospectivity of our projects, but also gives us the financial firepower to aggressively tackle this opportunity.
“Work completed by our dedicated lithium exploration team has built a strong foundation for future growth, with high grade lithium identified in multiple pegmatites along a strike length of approximately 5 kilometres, within the now defined 9 kilometre-long extent of the Andover pegmatite swarm.
“Several hundred pegmatite bodies remain to be sampled and mapped within the project area, and this work will continue in parallel with upcoming diamond and RC drilling programs.”
Andover geology with pegmatites and sampling locations.