MetalsGrove Mining Ltd (ASX:MGA) has identified several lithium exploration targets in the maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program completed at the Upper Coondina Project, 80 kilometres south of Marble Bar in Western Australia.
Assay results from the first phase of drilling at the Chola Prospect have confirmed multiple stacked spodumene pegmatites with anomalous lithium, tantalum and rubidium mineralisation.
One particular drill hole, UCR22033, returned 38 metres at 0.10% lithium oxide (Li2O) from 1 metre; 5 metres at 20 parts per million (ppm) tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) from 7 metres; 3 metres at 47 ppm Ta2O5 from 16 metres and 3 metres at 24 ppm from 24 metres; and 7 metres at 685 ppm rubidium oxide (Rb2O), including 2 metres at 1,140 ppm from 24 metres.
The critical metals explorer is planning further exploration using detailed geophysics and structural mapping to find new targets within and outside of the drilling areas and to delineate high-grade lithium-bearing pegmatites.
Phase 1 drilling program completed with drill hole location.
The results are in
The maiden 4,200-metre shallow RC drilling program was carried out at the Chola, Happy Go Lucky and Shaw River lithium prospects, with all holes intersecting high lithium anomalies.
Other notable intersections include:
- UCR22035 - 13 metres at 0.10% Li2O from 27 metres and 7 metres at 0.10% Li2O from 50 metres and 11 metres at 16 ppm Ta2O5 from 31 metres and 17 metres at 524 ppm Rb2O from 31 metres including 1-metre at 1,285 ppm Rb2O from 40 metres;
- UCR22012 - 10 metres at 0.10% Li2O from 19 metres and 1-metre at 27 ppm Ta2O5 from 20 metres and 2 metres at 31 ppm Ta2O5 from 46 metres and 2 metres at 831 ppm Rb2O from 19 metres;
- UCR22018 - 10 metres at 0.10% Li2O from 5 metres and 9 metres at 0.10% Li2O from 38 metres and 9 metres at 20 ppm Ta2O5 from 1 metre and 9 metres at 20 ppm Ta2O5 from 35 metres and 12 metres at 628 ppm Rb2O from surface including 1-metre at 1,296 ppm Rb2O from 1 metre; and
- UCR22038 - 9 metres at 0.10% Li2O from 5 metres and 12 metres at 0.10% Li2O from 42 metres and 1-metre at 29 ppm Ta2O5 from 3 metres.
Spodumene pegmatite intersection samples.
Busy period ahead
“We are very encouraged by the initial outcomes from our Phase 1 RC drilling at Upper Coondina with spodumene-pegmatites intersected in every hole,” MetalsGrove’s managing director Sean Sivasamy said.
“Drilling has given our team a much clearer understanding of the width, tenure and mineralisation profile of the pegmatites and this will play a key role in refining our Phase 2 drilling program.
“Drilling has highlighted shallow, wide intersections of lithium, tantalum and rubidium mineralisation within the Chola Prospect corridor and we will now aim to define the extent and source of the mineralised system.
“MetalsGrove has a busy pipeline of activity planned, with our maiden drilling programme set to commence at our exciting Bruce Rare Earth Prospect in the coming weeks.”
About Upper Coondina
Upper Coondina comprises a single granted exploration licence and covers an area of approximately 6,363 hectares.
The project is about halfway between the major mining regional service centres of Port Hedland and Newman, some 200 kilometres northwest and 180 kilometres south-southeast of the project, respectively.
Nearby lithium mines include Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN)’s Wodgina, Pilbara Minerals and Global Lithium.