Resistivity results have delivered new northern drill targets plus increased confidence in planned drill hole positioning for pre-existing targets. Pic: via Getty Images.
Mining
Special Report: A detailed resistivity survey at Future Battery Minerals’ Kangaroo Hills lithium project (KHLP) in WA has highlighted new targets which the company plans to drill in the new year.
The project, just 17km south of Coolgardie and 30km from Mineral Resources’ (ASX:MIN) Mt Marion lithium mine, has potential to host a lithium deposit of both scale and tonnage, the company says.
This new resistivity survey over the northern area of the project builds on previously reprocessed resistivity results from an Induced Polarisation (IP) survey completed by Future Battery Minerals (ASX:FBM) back when it was targeting nickel sulphides at the project in 2021.
After lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites were discovered at Kangaroo Hills in 2022, the resistivity component of the IP survey was reprocessed to assist in targeting other potential LCT pegmatites.
A resistivity survey sends an electrical current into the ground and maps the resistance against the flow of current, and since pegmatites have higher resistivity and lower density and seismic velocity than greenstones, this means resistivity is a useful exploration tool to determine drill targets.
The new resistivity results have extended the prospective target area to the north of the currently defined Big Red mineralised zone by up to 2.2km north-south, with the addition of two connected, prospective resistive anomalies along strike identified as Big Red North.
The results have also enlarged and refined the Western Grey and Quokka targets, as well as identified two further targets to the west of Big Red, Big Red West and Whiptail.
“Completing the optimised resistivity survey earlier this year has proven to be an excellent decision,” FBM technical director Robin Cox said.
“Clear delineation of two new, higher-order anomalies to the north of Big Red is a significant outcome, in an area which we are now calling Big Red North.
“It provides us with additional confidence that the northern extensional drilling of Big Red offers substantial upside opportunity to what we have already defined at Big Red and Rocky.
“Further, the refinement of pre-existing regional resistivity targets to the north, Western Grey and Quokka, allows us to sharpen our drill planning for the initial testing of these highly prospective areas.
“We are equally excited about testing these high-potential targets.”
Drilling of key northern target areas is planned to commence during Q1 2024, once permitting is secured.
The Phase 4 program will include RC drilling of Big Red Extension, plus scout testing of Quokka, Big Red West, Big Red North and Western Grey.
The program is also set to include further drilling of Big Red for ongoing metallurgical test work and resource definition drilling.
“Our environmental permitting to drill in the northern KHLP areas has continued to progress and is now at an advanced stage of evaluation,” Cox said.
“We have put in place preparations to allow us to commence drilling promptly upon grant of the final drill permitting for these areas – which is currently scheduled for Q1 2024.”
This article was developed in collaboration with Future Battery Minerals, 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.
