Intra Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX:IEC) has initiated a soil geochemical sampling program at the Maggie Hays Hill Project in the Lake Johnston province of Western Australia, focused on historical gold and lithium targets.
The survey will cover the entire tenement, including outcropping pegmatites which were recently rock chip sampled and revealed anomalous levels of key lithium pathfinder minerals tantalum and niobium, grading up to 390 parts per million (ppm) tantalum and 482 ppm niobium.
Tantalum and niobium are closely associated with pegmatite formations, the same geology that tantalum-caesium-lithium (LCT) pegmatites can form within – an important indicator for lithium potential.
Rapidly advancing toward drilling
“The company is pleased to commence a comprehensive exploration program that will rapidly advance the Maggie Hays Hill project to drilling,” Intra Energy Corporation managing director Ben Dunn said.
“The substantive spodumene intersections being reported by TG Metals and the recent entry into the Lake Johnston lithium province by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) provide compelling evidence that there is a lot more spodumene to be found in the region.
“We are not blind to other opportunities within the licence, in particular, the historical gold finds and our exploration program will ensure that the tenement is thoroughly evaluated.”
In addition to the soil sampling program, IEC is also undertaking a comprehensive rock sampling program over outcropping pegmatites that have yet to be sampled.
The company has also finalised a magnetic and LIDAR survey over the project to begin in mid-February with results expected in March.
Finally, IEC is working with the Ngadju Native Title Aboriginal Corporation to begin preliminary heritage monitoring in the areas where drilling is likely in preparation for a heritage clearance survey request.
In the background, Intra Energy is also evaluating its other assets to better allocate resources, but the company’s focus will remain on Maggie Hays in the March quarter.