Torque Metals Ltd (ASX:TOR) is confident that its New Dawn Lithium Project in Western Australia’s Goldfields could turn out to be a high-grade lithium discovery after a maiden diamond drilling campaign returned shallow lithium and multiple pegmatites.
Lithium was confirmed in multiple pegmatite intercepts, with a peak individual grade of 2.79% lithium oxide (Li2O) and a best intersection of 3.57 metres at 1.25% Li2O from 26.73 metres within 8 metres at 0.71% from 22.3 metres.
Assay results received from the first four holes near the historical Tantalum pit in the central lode have confirmed that New Dawn contains strong lithium mineralisation, in addition to historically-defined tantalum occurrence.
Torque has extended the drilling campaign, authorising another 20 holes over 4,000 metres.
Additionally, a reverse circulation (RC) rig has been mobilised to focus on deeper, multiple-stacked systems in the eastern area, where pegmatites are shown to be thicker and remain open north, south and at depth.
Drill program justified
A total of seven diamond holes were drilled, all of which intersected several shallow spodumene-rich pegmatite intervals up to 10.19 metres thick in the first 50-metre depth.
The first four drill holes, each less than 90 metres deep, were at the central lode, while two others were slightly north of the central lode and one deep hole was at the eastern lode.
The best intersections are:
- 3.57 metres at 1.25% Li2O from 26.73 metres within 8 metres at 0.71% from 22.3 metres (23NDDD003); and
- 3.06 metres at 0.53% from 31.82 metres within 4.48 metres at 0.41% from 30.4 metres (23NDDD001).
Assays for the remaining three holes are expected later this month.
Core section from drill hole 23NDDD003. Glowing salmon orange under ultraviolet light is interpreted to be spodumene (to be confirmed by XRD analyses).
"Potential for scale"
“Assays from the initial four shallow drill holes at the central lode area successfully confirmed we have near-surface spodumene mineralisation at New Dawn and, pleasingly, the deeper drilling also revealed we have stacked pegmatite zones, demonstrating potential for scale,” Torque managing director Cristian Moreno said.
“All seven holes intersected a number of shallow spodumene-enriched pegmatite intervals, some up to 10.19 metres thick within the first 50 metres depth.
“Of those, the three deeper holes located north and east of the central lode confirmed the presence of deeper pegmatite intersections, potentially expanding the project's mineralised boundaries and demonstrating strong continuity of the logged pegmatites both along strike and down dip.
“Having confirmed the presence of spodumene-rich bearing pegmatites and multiple deep pegmatite intersections, Torque is continuing its due diligence drilling effort at New Dawn, switching predominantly to RC, with 4 RC holes per each diamond hole for another 4,000 metres in the second stage.”
Geological model oblique view indicating multiple pegmatite intersections at depth.
Read more on Proactive Investors AU
