Intra Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX:IEC) has demonstrated the presence of pegmatites with key lithium pathfinder elements in rock chip samples collected from six outcropping pegmatites during a “brief field walk” at the newly acquired Maggie Hays Hill Lithium Project in WA.
Hard rock lithium is often created in lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite formations, a crystalline granite or igneous rock structure that has come under extreme pressure from melting metasedimentary rocks in continental collision zones.
The sampling of niobium, tantalum, caesium and beryllium from the pegmatite outcrops at Maggie Hays are therefore highly promising indicators of lithium mineralisation, as they tend to form in concert.
Sample MTD004 registered 390 parts per million (ppm) tantalum and 482 ppm niobium, while sample MTD001 returned 82 ppm tantalum and 176 ppm niobium.
Lithium drilling imminent
“The initial sampling results have demonstrated that the pegmatites are in the key geochemical zone associated with lithium mineralisation,” Intra Energy principal geologist Todd Hibberd said.
“The exceptionally high tantalum and niobium results supported by high caesium are at levels seen in spodumene orebodies and provide a compelling reason to advance the project to drilling as soon as possible.
“The company is currently finalising the exploration program and will lodge the necessary permits to conduct drilling.”
Sampling has so far only covered 2 kilometres of the known pegmatite trend, with a further 5 kilometres yet to be mapped and sampled.
“These early results from Todd Hibberd’s on-ground reconnaissance during the due diligence period reinforce our strong belief that this asset could be a game changer for IEC’s shareholders,” Intra Energy managing director Ben Dunn said.
“This was a brief field walk not a targeted exploration campaign but these anomalous niobium and tantalum numbers provide a great orientation for our planned exploration campaign.
“Under Todd’s guidance, we will commence exploration next week and, subject to the necessary permits and permissions, we want to be drilling at Lake Johnston by the middle of the year.”
IEC will begin further exploration immediately, with heritage approvals and drilling to follow when the tenement is formally transferred to Intra Energy.