Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) has encountered more high-grade lithium during resource definition drilling at the Colina prospect in Brazil.
The explorer unearthed a 26.8-metre intersection, weighing in at 1.4% lithium oxide from 94 metres, including 18 metres at 1.61%, while the broader assay pool indicates strong down-dip continuity across pegmatite thickness and grade.
Other strong results include 28.8 metres at 1.16% from 307 metres, including 14.8 metres at 1.51% from 321 metres and 10 metres at 1.05% from 186 metres.
Latin’s diamond drilling campaign remains on track to deliver the prospect’s maiden lithium resource in December this year, with a third of the 100-hole program under its belt.
In the meantime, regional mapping teams recommenced fieldwork to the southeast at Salinas South, where previous work identified a lithium corridor over 4 kilometres.
“Well on schedule” for maiden resource
Latin Resources exploration manager Tony Greenaway said: “Our latest results continue to show excellent high‐grade lithium intersections and continuity of the pegmatites along strike and down dip.
“We are well on schedule to deliver our maiden JORC resource in December, which is an exciting milestone for the company.”
Metallurgical test-work progress
In parallel with its drilling work, Latin recently kicked off a series of metallurgical test-work programs.
The explorer’s initial, first-pass sighter campaign has unveiled a high-grade 78.72% lithium oxide recovery, which was then processed into a concentrate that graded at 6.57%.
Based on its findings so far, Latin plans to conduct further sighter test work and prepare more samples for scrutiny.
As such, the next round of sighter tests will further explore the optimal crush size and additional heavy liquid separation cut points in order to optimise the larger test work flowsheet for an upcoming preliminary economic assessment (PEA).
Greenaway continued: “Further to our extremely promising first-pass results from our sighter metallurgical test-work program, we will be collecting additional samples for further sighter test-work in the coming weeks to further explore the optimal crush size and optimise the larger test-work flowsheet for the planned detailed PEA program.
“I am also pleased to have our regional teams out mapping at Salinas South, where we know we have more outcropping pegmatites.
“Our plan is to work up these areas to drill‐ready status and then in the near term commence drilling to begin testing these new areas.”
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