Lightning Minerals Ltd (ASX:L1M) has concluded its inaugural aircore drilling program at the Dundas Project in Western Australia, unlocking pegmatites and setting the stage for follow-up reverse circulation (RC) drilling, which is due to kick off within days.
The new pegmatite intersections encountered under alluvial cover are a key marker of early-stage exploration success, with notable intersections including:
- 17 metres in Hole DSAC0071 from 30 metres with the end of hole (EOH) ending in pegmatite;
- 5 metres in Hole DSAC0069 from 67 metres;
- 3 metres in Hole DSAC0105 from 24 metres; and
- 3 metres in Hole DSAC01024 from 21 metres with EOH ending in pegmatite.
Moving forward, Lightning Minerals has designed additional RC drilling of about 1,000 metres to target pegmatites intersected during the maiden aircore campaign.
Set to begin by mid-August, the key goal of this follow-up RC drilling is to further understand the dip direction of pegmatites previously found under alluvial cover on tenement E63/2001.
Multiple lithium in-soil anomalies
Lightning Minerals CEO Alex Biggs said: “The early success we have experienced at our Dundas Project is very positive and warrants further follow-up to determine orientation and depth of pegmatites.
“The indication of north-west to south-east striking pegmatites which have been located under alluvial cover is a demonstration of the team’s diligent and staged approach to exploration.
“I congratulate the team on a job well done and look forward to further successes as we continue to identify areas that host the potential for lithium mineralisation.
“Our exploration plans across our Dundas Project are focused on multiple lithium in soil anomalies and targets and we look forward to keeping the market updated on our progress."
Geological cross-section of aircore pegmatite intersections in holes DSAC0069 and DSAC0071
10 discrete pegmatites
In total, the aircore drill program on tenement E63/2001 has intersected 10 discrete pegmatites, all under the alluvial cover.
This is a significant exploration success and is a crucial step in potentially progressing towards identifying lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites as a core focus of the next stage of RC drilling which will target greater depths.
Forward plan
The RC program scheduled to begin in mid-August will assist in future drill program planning by optimising drill direction.
It will also test beneath the weathered rocks under the base of complete oxidation as intersected during the aircore drilling.
The program will potentially further demonstrate the thesis of northwest to southeast striking pegmatites as evidenced regionally.
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