Intra Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX:IEC) has welcomed results it describes as “outstanding” for rock chip samples from the Maggie Hays Hill (MHH) Project in the Lake Johnston Greenstone Belt of Western Australia.
Samples from prospective sections of outcropping pegmatites on the tenure revealed elevated levels of highly sought-after minerals, including lithium, tantalum, niobium, caesium and tin.
The results have also revealed a 2.5-kilometre-long zone of prospective pegmatites, within a core enrichment zone prospective for spodumene-bearing lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) mineralisation.
IEC intends to follow up these rock chip results with a first-pass reverse circulation (RC) drilling program in the June quarter to test the prospective targets.
Fertile for LCT pegmatites
“The recent rock chip samples demonstrate that we are in the core of a fertile lithium caesium tantalum pegmatite field,” Intra Energy principal geologist Todd Hibberd said.
“Mapping has identified the wall zone, albite zone and intermediate zone of the large pegmatites.
“Surface lithium and caesium anomalism suggests the core and core boundary zones are undercover and at depth.
“We are tantalisingly close to the spodumene enriched zones, and we are very keen to drill test all targets along the 2,500-metre trend.”
Twelve rock chip samples collected along a 130-metre section of pegmatite averaged:
- Lithium oxide - 503 parts per million (ppm);
- Caesium - 139 ppm;
- Tantalum - 107 ppm;
- Niobium - 57 ppm; and
- Tin - 45 ppm.
IEC believes these results originate from just outside the core spodumene mineralisation.
Deposit-scale zoning patterns in an idealised pegmatite.
“Best value” lithium explorer
“We are very pleased that these results have confirmed, not only compelling lithium targets, but also anomalous levels of the key pathfinder elements used to identify lithium targets,” Intra Energy managing director Ben Dunn said.
“The caesium results are eye-opening and could be another opportunity for exploration success.
“We are looking forward to testing these targets as soon as possible, and believe they have every chance of delivering significant shareholder joy.
“Coupled with the recent announcement by MinRes, that they are building a lithium processing hub on the adjacent property, in my view we are the best value lithium explorer on the ASX.”
IEC has lodged a heritage survey request with the Ngadju Native Title Group at Maggie Hays Hill, completion of which will clear the way for the June quarter drilling program, which will further test the LCT targets on the project.
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