Intra Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX:IEC) has identified multiple pegmatite dykes up to 5 metres wide during field mapping that is targeting lithium at the Yalgarra Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Project in Western Australia.
The dykes outcrop over 20-50 metres and are about 500 metres to 1 kilometre north of areas with elevated lithium anomalism.
The rocks are typically composed of an outer layer of potassic feldspar, albite and muscovite with identifiable accessory minerals, including garnet on the outer contact and quartz in the inner core.
Based on the highly encouraging discovery, the company has commenced tenement-wide satellite spectral imaging, including aster, thermal and side aperture radar to rapidly identify and prioritise further targets.
Lab results next quarter
The two areas were discovered following a review of the project, along with coincident low-level caesium, tantalum, niobium beryllium and tin anomalism which the company believes could be a proximal 'goldilocks' lithium enrichment zone.
Rock chip samples have been collected at multiple outcrops and several samples were collected across the 5-metre-wide pegmatite to test the outer contacts, the feldspar zone, the quartz core and a muscovite-rich layer.
The samples have been submitted to Labwest for analysis, with results expected in the December quarter.
Satellite image showing the distribution of identified outcropping pegmatite dykes.
Promising development
“The identification of so many pegmatite dykes in a small area within the mafic units is promising,” Intra Energy principal geologist Todd Hibberd said.
“Much of the tenement remains to be mapped and further work is expected to identify many more dykes.
“Given the scale of the tenement, the company is conducting satellite aster, thermal and side aperture radar to identify more targets rapidly and efficiently while awaiting assay results.”
Accelerating work
Intra Energy managing director Benjamin Dunn added: “The company is very encouraged by the identification of multiple pegmatite dykes in a small area of the tenement north of the existing lithium anomalism.
“There is substantial scope for more pegmatite swarms to be identified with the objective of defining compelling drilling targets.
“Exploration is accelerating and the project is advancing quickly with results from the sampling and satellite work expected early in the December quarter.”
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