Rock chip assay results have confirmed lithium mineralisation from pegmatites at Kali Metals Ltd (ASX:KM1)’s Jingellic Project, part of the company’s Lachlan Fold Belt portfolio of assets in New South Wales.
The company today announced that X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the samples, taken across a ~50 metre strike extent at the “Giant Pegmatite” prospect within the project’s Sweetwater Creek area, have confirmed spodumene as the dominant lithium-bearing mineral phase with mineralisation ranging from 0.66-1.54% lithium oxide.
A correlation is also evident between lithium and other pathfinder elements which display elevated caesium, tantalum, tin and beryllium values. This confirms that the Giant Pegmatite is of lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT)-type, and strongly supports the company’s exploration model for this style of deposit in this emerging region.
A 50-square-kilometre LiDAR survey completed over the Sweetwater Creek prospect and the surrounding area in February identified previously unknown pegmatite dykes.
One such identified pegmatite dyke, the “BFG Pegmatite”, consists of two dykes that combine into one over a combined strike extent of around one kilometre.
Rock chip samples from the newly identified BFG Pegmatite prospect contain elevated lithium, fractionation trends and pathfinder elements consistent with LCT pegmatites.
Further, the company has reported encouraging historical rock chip sample assays for tin mine workings within the Sweetwater Creek prospect. These results are subject to further investigation and verification by the company.
The Sweetwater Creek area does contain several historic tin mines including the Mullengandra and McLurg’s tin mines, which were discovered in the early 1900s, comprising numerous historical shafts and workings targeting high-grade tin-bearing quartz veins and pegmatites.
Potential to host “significant lithium bearing mineralisation”
Kali Metals managing director Graeme Sloan said: “These early-stage results highlight the potential for the Jingellic Project area in NSW to host significant lithium-bearing mineralisation. Rock chip assays from the pegmatites tested so far show grades up to 1.54% lithium oxide and the LIDAR survey has identified a number of previously unknown outcropping pegmatites that the company will test over time.
“In addition to the lithium potential, our team has also sampled around historic tin mines in the Sweetwater Creek prospect area, resulting in a number of highly encouraging rock chip sample assays. A detailed soil geochemistry sampling program across the Sweetwater Creek prospect area has been completed and work is underway to collate and analyse these results.
“This is a great start for the company and only possible due to the diligence of our Lachlan Fold Belt geology team. Kali Metals is looking forward to the results from the next phase of field work.”
Kali Metals’ Jingellic and Tallangatta Projects.
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