DY6 Metals’ rock chip sampling has returned +6% Li2O. Pic via Getty Images
DY6 Metals scores with high-grade rock chips at its pioneering Malawi lithium project
Mining
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- Sampling returns up to 6.2% Li2O at the Mzimba South licence in Malawi
- Other samples from Karonga South generate key geochemical information to understand intrusive fractionation processes in the district
- Next up for DY6 Metals is detailed mapping and sampling once full licence is granted
Special Report: Initial reconnaissance work by DY6 Metals at its recently acquired Mzimba South and Afro Gifts (Karonga South) licences in northern Malawi has uncovered the potential for a major lithium discovery.
In December last year, DY6 Metals (ASX:DY6) submitted exclusive prospecting licence applications over four properties – Mzimba West, Central and South as well as Karonga – covering a total area of 746.7km2.
All licences are prospective for lithium.
Reconnaissance work carried out by DY6 identified multiple pegmatite swarms at the Mzimba licences with pegmatites traced for up to 500m in length, with varying widths between 5m and +25m.
Despite this potential, the licences have only seen small-scale mining activities targeting gemstones, with little modern exploration carried out for lithium, caesium, niobium and tantalum.
Pegmatites were also observed at the Karonga licence.
Lithium prospectivity
Assays have now confirmed that lithium is present at the new Malawi licences with rock chip sampling at Mzimba South returning grades of up to 6.2% Li2O in lepidolite mica and 0.3% Li2O in the pegmatite rock assemblage along with high levels of caesium and rubidium.
These samples were collected from five outcrop locations where artisanal workers have been excavating pegmatites for gemstones.
DY6 notes these exposed pegmatites are heavily kaolonised, with the lepidolite and quartz zones appearing less weathered.
At Karonga South, early-stage assays of 11 samples have delivered the geochemical information required to develop an understanding of the intrusive fractionation processes which have occurred in the district.
It has also carried out a follow-up rock chip sampling program which collected six samples from six outcrop locations at Mzimba South and Central.
Environmental and social management plans have been submitted for the Mzimba, Karonga and Tundulu (rare earths) licences and the company expects the licences to be granted in the coming weeks.
More detailed mapping and sampling will then be carried out.
“We are excited to have identified high-grade lithium of over 6% received from Mzimba’s first pass reconnaissance visit,” DY6 chief executive Lloyd Kaiser said.
“We believe this was the first real exploration for lithium in Malawi and given the extensive project areas and noted pegmatite workings by artisanal miners, we are just starting to scratch the surface here and looking forward to further sampling over the coming months and positive assay results from these programs.”
Upcoming activities
DY6 is planning to start further field reconnaissance exploration in March 2024 across the Karonga and Mzimba prospects.
This will include the use of a pXRF analyser to directly identify a key suite of associated pathfinder elements.
The company expects the exploration over the largely unexplored areas of its licences to generate new priority exploration targets in 1H 2024.
This article was developed in collaboration with DY6 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.
