NickelSearch Ltd (ASX:NIS) has successfully identified 28 new areas of interest for lithium mineralisation at the Carlingup Project in Western Australia, leveraging a regional exploration program including detailed mapping, rock chip sampling and infill soil sampling to do so.
An independent review of geochemistry samples at Carlingup also aided the company in identifying areas of interest specifically for lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) style pegmatites.
Unlocking broader lithium prospectivity
“The Carlingup Project has already demonstrated that mineralised spodumene pegmatites exist on NIS tenements in a region hosting an economic spodumene operation,” NickelSearch managing director Nicole Duncan said.
“We are stepping out from the initial target areas to assess the lithium potential across NickelSearch’s lithium tenement package, using the combination of geology, geochemistry and geophysics to define our areas of exploration.
“We also will analyse areas where pegmatites have been logged historically but not sampled for lithium.”
NIS is exploring Carlingup in partnership with Allkem Ltd (ASX:AKE, OTC:OROCF, TSX:AKE) with a specific focus on lithium mineralisation.
Allkem is the owner and operator of the Mt Cattlin lithium mine, just 10 kilometres from the Carlingup Project, which is expected to produce 131,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate this financial year.
Looking forward
From here, NickelSearch has defined its next steps:
- Geological mapping and sampling will begin in November by Newexco geologists within the areas of the priority geochemical anomalies.
- NIS has obtained a new access permit from the WA Mining Warden to re-enter the quarry and these priority target areas.
- Negotiations for consent and compensation to these areas will continue and require finalisation (as between the parties) before an exploration program that involves ground disturbance (i.e., drilling) can begin.
- NIS is in the process of agreeing next steps regarding access with the operator of the quarry, including the draining of the quarry pit.
- Regional lithium exploration continues with mapping, rock chip sampling, stream sediment sampling and additional soil sampling continuing across the Carlingup tenements.
- The NIS exploration database is being interrogated for evidence of potential lithium host rocks and mineralisation.