First Lithium expands Mali drilling to include the Faraba prospect. Pic: via Getty Images.
‘Impressive spodumene’: First Lithium adds another drill rig to expanded lithium blitz in Mali
Mining
share
- First Lithium expands Mali exploration drill program to test the Faraba prospect
- Another 2,000m and second drill rig added to delineate the extent of known spodumene at Faraba
- Further results include fast track assays results expected from Blakala
Special Report: The ongoing successes of First Lithium’s drill program within the Bougouni region in Mali has led it to both expand its scale and mobilise a second diamond drill rig to test the Faraba prospect.
Every single one of the eight diamond holes totalling 912m it has drilled to date at the Blakala prospect within the Gouna project has intersected spodumene mineralisation with cumulative thickness of ~420m.
While assays are currently pending, the strong visual estimates have spodumene levels as high as 20% — a promising sign ahead of deeper drilling for First Lithium (ASX:FL1).
These are a strong indicator that CSA Global’s 2008 ranking of Blakala as being one of only two Tier 1 priority lithium targets in Mali – the other being Leo Lithium’s 211Mt Goulamina joint venture project with Ganfeng – was right on the money.
Both prospects have clear similarities making Blakala a possible geological mirror of Goulamina.
Bigger, faster exploration
FL1 has now added another 2,000m to the original 6,000m drill program, which was designed to unlock the potential of the Blakala prospect.
However, rather than adding more holes to the Blakala exploration, the additional 2,000m will be carried out over the Faraba prospect to delineate the extent of known spodumene bearing pegmatites with substantive surface expressions and will reach depths of up to 300m.
A second diamond rig has arrived to carry out this drilling, which will follow previous trenching and further examine and define the lithium-spodumene pegmatites which were identified in the confirmatory diamond drilling program.
This area has a minimum strike length of 1.5km comprising multiple pegmatite bodies with widths up to 7m.
FL1 is also expecting further updates from Blakala drilling with fast-track assay results coming within two to three weeks.
“The second drill rig on-site at Faraba is a significant achievement as the company increases the drilling programs,” managing director Venkat Padala said.
“The Blakala prospect has already identified significant pegmatites with impressive spodumene visual estimates.
“Drilling at the Faraba prospect is designed to complement the first program at Blakala and to identify further areas of value for the company.”
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.
