Laboratory assay results of rock samples have confirmed the initial discovery and have returned high-grade lithium results of up to 1.85% LiO2. Pic via Getty Images.
Mining
Assays returned from rock samples of recently discovered pegmatite outcrops have returned high concentrations of weathered spodumene at Corazon Mining’s Miriam project.
Laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of lithium and validated Corazon Mining’s (ASX:CZN) initial findings, including high grade values of between 1.01% and 1.85% Li2O.
However, the strongly weathered surface samples have suffered significant lithium depletion and CZN now plans to undertake detailed exploration activities to confirm the extent of the lithium mineralisation within the project area.
This will be in tandem with the nickel sulphide exploration program previously proposed for the Miriam nickel-sulphide deposit.
Immediate attention will revolve around defining a surface geochemical footprint for the mineralised pegmatite(s) beneath the thin soil covering at Miriam.
Rock samples of spodumene-rich outcropping pegmatite were extracted from a historical prospecting trench.
At surface, this pegmatite is weathered and the spodumene is greyish-green in colour, and replaced by albite and ultrafine muscovite (alteration and weathering processes).
In less weathered pegmatite samples, the spodumene is unaltered, yellowish white in natural light and shows orange luminescence under long wavelength UV light.
Spodumene crystals observed are generally 1.5-3 centimetres in width and up to 40 centimetres in length.
Rock samples submitted for analysis have an estimated spodumene content up to roughly 30pc, however these visual descriptions should not be used to determine the lithium content of the pegmatite.
Samples submitted for laboratory analysis were variable in character, so as to acquire information to assess the effects alteration and weathering has on the overall lithium content within the pegmatite.
This article was developed in collaboration with Corazon Mining (ASX:CZN), 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.
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