DeSoto Resources off and running at NT lithium and gold projects

DeSoto Resources has commenced work programs at its Shoobridge lithium project alongside drill targeting at its Fenton gold project – both in the Northern Territory.

Ground reconnaissance, mapping and field work are planned at Shoobridge in advance of a regional-scale stream sampling program targeting lithium potential approximately 1-3km outboard of mapped granite contacts.

Notably, the project directly abuts the Fenton gold project and Core Lithium’s (ASX:CXO) Shoobridge Project, located within the Tipperary pegmatite district, including the Shoobridge pegmatite field and the Plateau Point pegmatite field.

At Fenton, DeSoto Resources (ASX:DES) will complete Fixed Loop Electrical Magnetic (FLEM) and Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysical surveys in April across key structures controlling the Fenton gold trend in advance of a +3,000m Diamond Drill (DD) Program.

Geophysics works a treat at Fenton

The company has completed the re-processing of high-resolution aeromagnetic data (70m line spacing) and evaluation of historic Airborne EM at Fenton, and is confident that geophysics is a powerful exploration tool at the project, with current and future work designed to identify key structures which have the potential to host iron sulphide rich gold mineralised zones.

Historic drilling by Homestake Gold (previously a 50% owner in the Kalgoorlie Super Pit) returned grades including 55m at 0.89g/t gold from 418m including 20m at 1.74 g/t gold from 423m (FEND18) and 17m at 0.71g/t gold from 610m (FEND14).

Also on the gold exploration agenda is a 1,500m RC program at the Emerald Springs gold target at the Fenix lithium-gold project, testing for prospective Pine Creek gold mineralised structures and a coherent >20ppb Au anomaly with associated As halo (>150ppm As) which has been defined over a 900m strike length.

Fenix lithium exploration continuing

At Fenix, first-pass stream and rock chip sampling has been completed, and has identified two broad areas of lithium anomalism which show elevated lithium responses with pathfinder element support, including elevated Cs, Be, Ta, Rb, Sn, W and Tl.

Plus, a single granite sample returned a ratio that indicates a high degree of fractionation (K/Rb <150 & Mg/Li <30) providing potential to host Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum (LCT) mineralisation.

DES plans to recommence lithium reconnaissance stream, soil and rock sampling programs testing areas of interest as soon as the wet season allows.

These programs will also be expanded to explore the recently granted Shoobridge West licences, and the Shoobridge East area.

High priority manganese projects identified

Beyond lithium and gold, the company has also identified its highest priority manganese project and country target areas – specifically South America and West Africa.

Priority targets are focused on high-value battery metal focused manganese-rich opportunities with due diligence and groundwork underway.

DeSoto will continue to pursue a range of manganese targets generated from its global review of manganese opportunities, as it believes manganese and specifically manganese sulphate to be a key material for the current global energy transition.

This article was developed in collaboration with DeSoto Resources Limited, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.