Eye on Lithium: The West could end EV battery ties with China by 2030 and Sayona could benefit

Lodestar Minerals hits high-grade lithium at the Nepean Project
Accelerate Resources identifies outcropping pegmatites at East Pilbara project
Westar Resources completes negotiations, enters option agreement over the Mindoolah Lithium-Gold Project

All your lithium news, Thursday November 24.

Goldman Sachs believes the United States and Europe could both end reliance on Chinese EV batteries by 2030 putting Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA) in a prime position as it closes in on a restart of its North American Lithium (NAL) operation Québec, Canada.

The operation is on track to recommence production in Q1 2023 with both procurement and permitting activities nearing the finish line and construction activities ramping up.

Mining contractors L.Fournier & Fils started operations in October with work underway and necessary equipment and personnel mobilised on site.

Sayona is also targeting an expansion of NAL’s future mine production capacity following the recent acquisition of 48 new claims spanning nearly 2,000ha adjacent to NAL.

“With lithium demand continuing to increase and supply remaining constrained, we are focused on achieving our targets as we build the largest lithium resource base in North America,” SYA managing director Brett Lynch says.

Goldman Sachs says U.S., Europe could end reliance on Chinese EV batteries by 2030 -FT https://t.co/7DS6rXSfDo pic.twitter.com/GSlvXwbnPN

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 22, 2022

Here’s how ASX lithium companies are tracking:

CODE	COMPANY	PRICE	% TODAY	MARKET CAP
LSR	Lodestar Minerals	0.007	56%	$7,822,968
AOU	Auroch Minerals Ltd	0.078	50%	$19,297,814
TSC	Twenty Seven Co. Ltd	0.002	33%	$7,982,442
AX8	Accelerate Resources	0.035	21%	$9,019,804
RAG	Ragnar Metals Ltd	0.017	13%	$5,687,773
ENT	Enterprise Metals	0.01	11%	$5,876,826
PNN	Power Minerals Ltd	0.675	10%	$44,376,575
MM1	Midasmineralsltd	0.175	9%	$9,141,082
SRZ	Stellar Resources	0.013	8%	$12,055,571
WR1	Winsome Resources	1.105	8%	$142,671,822
JRL	Jindalee Resources	2.27	7%	$121,643,408
IMI	Infinitymining	0.385	7%	$22,722,750
TYX	Tyranna Res Ltd	0.031	7%	$69,757,334
THR	Thor Mining PLC	0.009	6%	$9,374,510
STM	Sunstone Metals Ltd	0.038	6%	$94,336,071
AUN	Aurumin	0.077	5%	$9,694,921
EVR	Ev Resources Ltd	0.021	5%	$18,519,681
ARN	Aldoro Resources	0.365	4%	$39,370,561
M2R	Miramar	0.1	4%	$6,785,447
ALY	Alchemy Resource Ltd	0.026	4%	$29,451,906
TON	Triton Min Ltd	0.027	4%	$35,952,389
WML	Woomera Mining Ltd	0.014	4%	$12,684,388
TEM	Tempest Minerals	0.029	4%	$14,133,453
RDT	Red Dirt Metals Ltd	0.58	4%	$186,328,327
SYA	Sayona Mining Ltd	0.2225	3%	$1,832,062,307
ZNC	Zenith Minerals Ltd	0.31	3%	$103,653,684
CY5	Cygnus Gold Limited	0.485	3%	$76,423,472
WC8	Wildcat Resources	0.033	3%	$20,856,727
LPD	Lepidico Ltd	0.0175	3%	$129,842,111
RGL	Riversgold	0.036	3%	$33,091,370
GW1	Greenwing Resources	0.365	3%	$44,802,939
LEL	Lithenergy	0.935	3%	$54,736,500
LIS	Lisenergylimited	0.3925	2%	$63,876,962
MQR	Marquee Resource Ltd	0.053	2%	$16,516,114
BMM	Balkanminingandmin	0.295	2%	$12,473,119
LNR	Lanthanein Resources	0.0335	2%	$31,773,244
RIO	Rio Tinto Limited	107.04	1%	$39,163,310,577
LTR	Liontown Resources	2.095	1%	$4,546,621,175
AS2	Askarimetalslimited	0.445	1%	$21,709,214
NMT	Neometals Ltd	1.05	1%	$574,850,823
GL1	Globallith	2.46	1%	$508,003,745
LKE	Lake Resources	1.0525	1%	$1,453,907,151
AZL	Arizona Lithium Ltd	0.0765	1%	$183,154,343
GLN	Galan Lithium Ltd	1.55	1%	$469,037,617
IGO	IGO Limited	15.975	0%	$12,078,421,617
ADV	Ardiden Ltd	0.009	0%	$24,015,018
1MC	Morella Corporation	0.018	0%	$104,428,004
AML	Aeon Metals Ltd.	0.029	0%	$31,795,618
AVZ	AVZ Minerals Ltd	0.78	0%	$2,752,409,203
EMH	European Metals Hldg	0.745	0%	$88,714,066
ESS	Essential Metals Ltd	0.425	0%	$110,059,670
INR	Ioneer Ltd	0.56	0%	$1,175,069,430
LIT	Lithium Australia	0.05	0%	$61,059,584
MLS	Metals Australia	0.049	0%	$29,744,773
PLL	Piedmont Lithium Inc	0.875	0%	$461,624,450
PSC	Prospect Res Ltd	0.17	0%	$78,584,109
RLC	Reedy Lagoon Corp.	0.012	0%	$6,689,123
TKL	Traka Resources	0.006	0%	$4,132,647
CHR	Charger Metals	0.58	0%	$25,291,500
AAJ	Aruma Resources Ltd	0.079	0%	$12,399,959
PAM	Pan Asia Metals	0.465	0%	$68,287,849
AM7	Arcadia Minerals	0.255	0%	$11,907,962
BYH	Bryah Resources Ltd	0.026	0%	$7,312,590
DTM	Dart Mining NL	0.07	0%	$10,868,211
EMS	Eastern Metals	0.098	0%	$3,828,312
FG1	Flynngold	0.12	0%	$7,687,326
LRV	Larvottoresources	0.185	0%	$9,232,518
MMC	Mitremining	0.22	0%	$5,958,722
SHH	Shree Minerals Ltd	0.009	0%	$11,146,382
TMB	Tambourahmetals	0.145	0%	$5,972,927
WCN	White Cliff Min Ltd	0.017	0%	$12,709,257
CRR	Critical Resources	0.055	0%	$82,143,691
LRS	Latin Resources Ltd	0.13	0%	$261,033,571
KZR	Kalamazoo Resources	0.24	0%	$35,716,650
KAI	Kairos Minerals Ltd	0.029	0%	$56,958,711
PGD	Peregrine Gold	0.46	0%	$17,825,869
NVA	Nova Minerals Ltd	0.7	0%	$128,562,893
BNR	Bulletin Res Ltd	0.12	0%	$35,110,932
RMX	Red Mount Min Ltd	0.005	0%	$8,211,819
CAI	Calidus Resources	0.365	0%	$159,790,322
MRR	Minrex Resources Ltd	0.043	0%	$46,592,293
EFE	Eastern Resources	0.041	0%	$46,448,184
NWM	Norwest Minerals	0.057	0%	$12,660,121
AOA	Ausmon Resorces	0.0065	0%	$5,572,381
VKA	Viking Mines Ltd	0.01	0%	$10,252,584
SRI	Sipa Resources Ltd	0.042	0%	$9,533,408
G88	Golden Mile Res Ltd	0.023	0%	$4,705,564
EPM	Eclipse Metals	0.019	0%	$38,460,880
CZL	Cons Zinc Ltd	0.021	0%	$9,721,350
MXR	Maximus Resources	0.043	0%	$13,712,948
XTC	Xantippe Res Ltd	0.007	0%	$57,016,609
LLI	Loyal Lithium Ltd	0.55	0%	$25,707,000
WMC	Wiluna Mining Corp	0.205	0%	$74,238,031
ZEO	Zeotech Limited	0.036	0%	$58,123,183
DAF	Discovery Alaska Ltd	0.03	0%	$6,727,041
FTL	Firetail Resources	0.17	0%	$11,050,000
DAL	Dalaroometalsltd	0.115	0%	$3,435,625
OCN	Oceanalithiumlimited	0.525	0%	$18,073,125
CMD	Cassius Mining Ltd	0.03	0%	$12,112,227
WES	Wesfarmers Limited	48.915	0%	$55,512,818,248
AKE	Allkem Limited	14.6	0%	$9,335,314,379
MIN	Mineral Resources.	86.66	0%	$16,493,805,873
VUL	Vulcan Energy	7.26	0%	$1,044,914,344
IR1	Irismetals	1.815	-1%	$114,482,250
LPI	Lithium Pwr Int Ltd	0.525	-1%	$207,336,597
DRE	Dreadnought Resources Ltd	0.093	-1%	$288,928,886
PLS	Pilbara Min Ltd	4.855	-1%	$14,733,584,997
MNS	Magnis Energy Tech	0.365	-1%	$359,022,649
AGY	Argosy Minerals Ltd	0.62	-2%	$884,776,724
KTA	Krakatoa Resources	0.06	-2%	$21,027,305
A11	Atlantic Lithium	0.885	-2%	$545,167,494
GSM	Golden State Mining	0.056	-2%	$6,669,810
MTM	Mtmongerresources	0.098	-2%	$3,751,003
CXO	Core Lithium	1.42	-2%	$2,665,563,158
TKM	Trek Metals Ltd	0.087	-2%	$32,391,112
SCN	Scorpion Minerals	0.077	-3%	$26,362,789
TUL	Tulla Resources	0.385	-3%	$79,234,130
INF	Infinity Lithium	0.18	-3%	$81,821,132
FRS	Forrestaniaresources	0.175	-3%	$9,075,568
KGD	Kula Gold Limited	0.033	-3%	$12,281,205
ASN	Anson Resources Ltd	0.2375	-3%	$288,094,030
LLL	Leolithiumlimited	0.555	-3%	$567,327,724
RAS	Ragusa Minerals Ltd	0.135	-4%	$18,510,541
GT1	Greentechnology	1.055	-4%	$208,858,540
QPM	Queensland Pacific	0.1775	-4%	$323,074,366
IPT	Impact Minerals	0.009	-5%	$23,573,020
LRD	Lordresourceslimited	0.265	-5%	$9,319,694
EUR	European Lithium Ltd	0.088	-5%	$134,779,243
QXR	Qx Resources Limited	0.0605	-5%	$56,439,189
AZI	Altamin Limited	0.094	-6%	$39,171,675
VMC	Venus Metals Cor Ltd	0.15	-6%	$28,492,589
A8G	Australasian Metals	0.215	-9%	$9,675,066
AVW	Avira Resources Ltd	0.003	-14%	$7,468,265

44 lithium companies finished in the green, 59 fell flat and 30 tumbled into the red.

Who’s got news out?

LODESTAR MINERALS (ASX:LSR)

LSR flew out of the gate in early morning trade with shares gaining some 75% after announcing high-grade lithium results at the Nepean Project in WA.

Drilling intersected pegmatite-hosted mineralisation in the northern area of the Nepean JV tenements returning 6m at 1.38% Li2O from 198m, including 2m at 3.26% Li2O from 198m.

In an important breakthrough, LSR says the lithium-bearing mineral is identified as spodumene, differentiating this pegmatite from the nearby Lepidolite Hill deposit and highlighting the potential for spodumene-bearing pegmatites within the wider Coolgardie greenstone terrane.

Geological mapping and sampling to locate surface expressions of the pegmatite will begin and additional RC drilling is planned.

ACCELERATE RESOURCES (ASX:AX8)

Numerous outcropping pegmatites have been identified at Accelerate’s East Pilbara lithium project.

Four large pegmatite bodies have been discovered within the potential “Goldilocks Zone”, each striking at least 300m and 20m to 40m wide.

Around 14 smaller outcropping pegmatites have also been discovered – small, individual pegmatite veins and pods were also common, AX8 says.

Results (due in January) from the current program will be used to prioritise the targets for follow-up mapping and sampling in early 2023, and to progress to the drilling stage.

WESTAR RESOURCES (ASX:WSR)

WSR has completed negotiations to enter an option agreement over the Mindoolah Lithium-Gold Project around 70km west of Cue in WA – which sent shares in the company surging some 60% this morning.

Westar has also executed an agreement for the sale of the Gidgee South Project, located approximately 60km north of the town of Sandstone with Aurumin (ASX:AUN).

The agreement over the Mindoolah tenure and divestment of Gidgee South are aligned to Westar’s exploration strategy of exploring for company making assets in areas of known mineralisation.

Here, initial exploration work will focus on recently identified mapped outcrops of pegmatites over several kilometres of strike, with no sampling for LCT mineralisation.

“In the background, we will refine the potential priority targets for gold exploration,” WSR managing director Karl Jupp says.

JINDALEE RESOURCES (ASX:JRL)

JRL has hit ‘outstanding’ intersections in all six holes at the Mcdermitt Lithium Project with grades up to 23.4m at 176ppm Li from 133.6m, including 6m at 2211ppm Li from 140.2m.

Mineralised intercepts in MDD025 extend from 21.4m to 203.6m with the thickness of mineralised sediments (182.2m at 1197 ppm Li from 21.4m) suggesting excellent potential for substantial tonnage increases on the western side of the deposit.

LATIN RESOURCES (ASX:LRS)

LRS has recommenced field work at the Catamarca Lithium Project in Argentina to develop further understanding of this fertile pegmatite system.

The company plans to do this through systematic mapping of the spodumene occurrences, coupled with detailed surface sampling to define follow-up drill targets.

In parallel with this work, LRS will also re-establish its link with the wider Catamarca regional community though a program of ongoing and sustained community consultation via a network of local community representatives.

LSR, AX8, WSR, JRL, LRS share price today

INFINITY MINING (ASX:IMI)

Maiden drilling has wrapped up at the Tambourah South Lithium Project – a total of 21 RC holes were completed for 1,812m.

Over 41 individual pegmatite units containing visual lepidolite and spodumene were logged in 18 of the 21 holes with pegmatite intervals varying from 1m up to 35m.