Pan Asia’s drilling continues to validate its model of extensive lithium mineralisation hosted in lepidolite rich pegmatite dykes and veins at the Reung Kiet project.

Positive assays were received from the latest batch of seven drill holes with RKDD019 returning an aggregate7.65m grading 1.61% lithium oxide, 587 parts per million (ppm) caesium, 0.55% rubidium, 3.57% potassium, 618ppm tin and 201ppm tantalum.

To date, Pan Asia Metals’ (ASX:PAM) drilling has outlined a mineralised trend about 1km long that is open to the north, south and downdip. The pegmatite swarm is up to 100m wide with numerous pegmatite veins and dykes up to 18m wide.

Intersected lithium oxide grades are also in-line with other lithium mica projects in the global peer group.

Tin, tantalum rubidium, caesium and potassium occur in association with lithium and are potentially valuable by-products that could reduce the overall cost of extraction.

Managing director Paul Lock said the company was pleased that five of the six drill holes on the western side of the dyke swarm had confirmed the trend’s continuation while RKDD022 under RKDD002, which was drilled under the historical tin mining pit by the company in 2019, confirmed the continuation of the pegmatites at depth.

“In preparation for a Scoping Study to be delivered in Quarter 1, 2022, we are also measuring and reporting caesium, potassium, rubidium, tin and tantalum, all potentially valuable by-products,” he added.

“Not only have we seen lithium oxide grades up to 2.09% in these assays, but we have caesium grades at just under 1,000ppm, rubidium up to 0.63%, tin up to 1,408ppm and tantalum up to 490ppm.

“This is all very encouraging when considered in the context of the broader peer group.”

reung Kiet lithium cross section
Cross section showing RKDD008, RKDD017 and RKDD015. Pic: Supplied

Drilling is ongoing at Reung Kiet with assays for new holes to be reported as they become available.

Assays for diamond tails on holes RKDD006-010, along with infill and extensional sampling of those holes, will also be reported when they are available.

 

Reung Kiet

The Reung Kiet project is located near Phuket within a known tin mining region that includes a 500m long and 125m wide open cut tin mine where mining of weathered pegmatites extended up 25m below surface to the top of hard rock.

Work by Pan Asia had previously identified a prospective zone of at least 1km long in association with extensive surface indications of lithium in trenching, rock-chips and soil anomalies, a finding that has been supported by drilling to date.

This pegmatite trend is divided into RK North and RK South, which are each about 500m long.

RK North includes the old open cut and immediate surrounds while RK South extends along strike to the southeast and encompasses a prominent knoll.

This article was developed in collaboration with Pan Asia Metals,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.