Global Lithium Resources Ltd (ASX:GL1) has completed its 2023 reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling campaign, having drilled more than 60,000 metres at its 100%-owned Manna Lithium Project, in Western Australia’s Goldfields region.
Six drill rigs were utilised as part of this year’s exploration program and drilling covered infill, extensional, metallurgical and geotechnical programs.
Further results are due this month, with additional pegmatite intercepts awaiting assay results.
The large-scale program specifically targeted expansion and infill drilling of the Manna mineral resource estimate (MRE) which currently stands at 36 million tonnes at 1.13% Li2O1.
The Manna MRE is to be updated in CY24 and drilling results from the current program will be incorporated into the Manna definitive feasibility study.(DFS), which is running in parallel and also expected in CY24.
“This is an exciting time for Global Lithium as we have now drilled over 60,000 metres at the Manna Lithium Project during 2023 and now await assays to feed into the MRE update," Global Lithium general manager – Geology Logan Barber said.
"Our exploration team has worked incredibly hard throughout this program while maintaining a high level of safety.
“With drilling now complete, we will begin to update the market as results come to hand from this program, building on the initial results previously announced in October.
“Significant upside still exists at the Manna Project with the system still open to the NE and SW. Targeting and planning for further drilling in 2024 has already begun.”
Global Lithium geologists on-site at the Manna Lithium Project reviewing diamond core from the 2023 drilling campaign.
More about the drilling
The ongoing drilling campaign is focused on exploring the extensions along strike and down dip of the Manna Lithium Deposit. Significantly, the length of the strike for spodumene-bearing pegmatites now spans more than 3.2 kilometres.
In addition to this, geotechnical drilling has been concluded, contributing valuable insights to the Manna DFS.
The 2023 drilling program is being carried out by the skilled teams of K-Drill and Profile Drilling – the same contractors who safely executed the RC drilling program at Manna in 2022 – and DDH1 Drilling, who previously conducted metallurgical diamond drilling at the site.
GL1 reported initial assay results from the current drilling program in October.
Read more: Global Lithium Resources delivers further high-grade lithium hits from Manna Lithium Project
These results featured high-grade intercepts and extended the mineralized strike by approximately 500 metres in the northeastern part of the Manna deposit. The company is awaiting further assays for additional pegmatite intercepts, which will be disclosed to the market as soon as they are available.
GL1 is planning to revise the MRE for the Manna Lithium Project in the first quarter of 2024 after receiving all the assay results from this drilling program. This updated MRE will be integrated into the DFS, which is now projected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2024.
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