This is the second of three sets of assays to be released from the Company's 18,950 feet (5,776m) programme, and include very encouraging results across all the target pegmatites.
Results from the San Domingo Central Target Area are highlighted by the following intervals: 7.28m at 1.27% Li2O in hole SD-DH23-069 from 27.43m depth at
Jumbo drill hole SD-DH23-037 encountered 9.54m @ 1.85% Li2O from 46.24m, highlighting the high grades and shallow nature of lithium mineralisation in a hole that is 400m away to the southwest of hole SD-DH23-069
Summary: Shallow lithium mineralised intercepts were encountered at the Central Target Area, with 90% of significant intercepts at 20cm, and dominant at San Domingo) has better preservation than finer grained (1-3cm) spodumene, thus, crystal size is important to overall lithium content and simple low-cost recovery methods.
Elements such as tin, tantalum (Ta2O5) and beryllium (BeO) are found to be highly anomalous in the Central Target Area, including 0.40% BeO with 118 ppm Ta2O5 over 4.44m in SD-DH23-075 over 4.44m and within 26.52m at 0.27% BeO
Tantalum, tin, beryllium, rubidium, caesium, and niobium were consistently found to be strongly anomalous within, or peripheral to, our best lithium intercepts, providing excellent pathfinders for targeting, interpretation, and guides to this 'Kathleen Valley' LCT-style of lithium deposit.
These, and prior near surface drill hole intercepts in the Central Target Area, offer potential opportunity for open-pit development when further drilling proves up mineable resources. The shallow nature of mineralisation is a compelling argument for continued exploration.
The final news release, to include results from Morning Star, will follow as soon as data finalisation, compilation, and interpretation is completed.
'Our team has been working diligently throughout the year to interpret the data, and the arrival of the results in December was something of a Christmas present to ourselves! We are also confident that they will be a springboard to the next programme. We are encouraged by this second phase of exploration drilling, continue to be excited for the future at SD, and look forward to the next and final set of results from this drilling programme.
'It also needs to be noted that the nature of the mineralisation encountered to date is simple and shallow; no deep drilling as been undertaken, although this will be considered at a later stage of our Company's development. Deeper drilling may indeed reveal less mobilisation of the lithium due to weathering and, as a result, broader zones of mineralisation.
'We continue to ensure, via corporate cost reductions and in the field project work, that we are properly positioned to be ready for the next wave of lithium demand and subsequent commodity price increases.'
This exploration campaign was designed to test for shallow lithium mineralisation on targets proximal to existing roads and access, to maximise our ability to test as many pegmatites as possible from the same or proximal drill platforms, keeping disturbance to a minimum. Some holes were drilled longitudinally and others perpendicular to the surface-exposed pegmatites, with holes designed to test lateral and vertical zoning. Other holes were step-outs from the previous drilling campaign, such as holes at Joker and Jumbo, both taking advantage of existing roads or minimal new roads to lessen impact on the drill permits.
Drill holes at Joker cross cut a steeply west dipping, and roughly 15-20m wide, pegmatite with surface expression of 0.25km strike length. Overall, the drill holes contain an abundance of fine-grained spodumene although geochemical results were generally low, interpreted as a lithium depletion of the spodumene, possibly due to localised hydrothermal activity. The visible spodumene at Joker reached high volume percentage, between 25% and 50%, but the depletion of lithium due to localised processes produced low grade intercepts such as 5.06m of 0.49% Li2O, 18.29m of 0.05%, and 10.67m of 0.06% Li2O. The pegmatite is open at depth and to the south, however, further work at Joker will depend upon targeting less altered zones.
The Jumbo target sits on a hill with limited access and holes were drilled with intentions to extend mineralisation down dip and along strike. Hole SD-DH23-081 was a step-out and down-dip hole looking to extend prior intercepts, such as 9.54m at 1.85% Li2O in hole SD-DH23-037. While thinner, hole SD-DH23-081 encountered 2.17m at 0.58% Li2O and 0.55% Li2O over 0.40m at depths of 109.58m and 142.25m, extending mineralisation to the south. Due to limited access to the west and south, where greater potential exists, no holes were drilled in these preferred locations.
The final news release, to include results from Morning Star, will follow as soon as data finalisation, compilation, and interpretation is completed. Morning Star is approximately 1km to the southwest of Jumbo, along the prominent NE-SW corridor of pegmatites seen on the 10.5km long San Domingo district trend.
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