• Drilling intersects lithium mineralisation at the Eastern Pegmatite
  • Potential also highlighted for a northern extension of the Main Pegmatite
  • First Lithium’s continued success in Mali bodes well for upcoming maiden resource due later this year

 

Special Report: First Lithium continues to prove just how prospective its Blakala prospect in Mali really is after intersecting more high-grade lithium at the Eastern Pegmatite in recent drilling.

These latest results add further value to the prospect, which has consistently delivered strong exploration results befitting of its position as one of just two Tier-1 priority lithium targets in Mali, ranked by CSA Global back in 2008.

Drilling had returned hits such as 111m @ 1.57% Li2O from 33m and defined the mineralised strike of the Main and Western pegmatite bodies to 1,200m and >1,000m respectively.

First Lithium’s (ASX:FL1) string of successes gives it greater confidence that Blakala could mirror the success of the other Tier-1 lithium target in Mali, which is none other than Leo Lithium’s (ASX:LEO) 211Mt Goulamina project.

LLL’s recent move to sell another 5% of Goulamina to China’s Ganfeng for US$65m also provides FL1 with a keen understanding of just how valuable its ground could be.

First Lithium (ASX:FL1)
Drilling at the Eastern Pegmatite. Pic: Supplied (FL1)

 

Eastern Pegmatite joins the fray

The company has now received further high-grade results from the Main and Western pegmatites, including 19m @ 1.85% Li2O from 41m (BDFS22) and 17.8m @ 1.39% Li2O from 20m (BDFS20).

Notably, hole BDFS22 is the northernmost hole on the Main Pegmatite and indicates potential for mineralisation to extend further to the north.

Equally importantly for FL1, first assays from drilling at the Eastern Pegmatite have returned results such as 13.03m @ 1.24% Li2O from 20.95m, including 6m @ 1.62% Li2O from 27m in hole BDFS24, confirming that it is a significant lithium discovery.

Channel sampling had previous returned a result of 19m @ 1.94% Li2O.

“Expansion of the pegmatite to the Eastern zone has again confirmed the scope and size of the potential of this project,” FL1 managing director Venkat Padala said.

“With the Western, Main and now the Eastern pegmatites showing substantial Li2O, the excitement is building as the assays continue to deliver positive results and create a positive outlook for the maiden JORC Mineral Resource to be completed and announced later in the year.”

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with First Lithium, 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.