Pan Asia continues to intersect pegmatite dykes and vein swarms containing lepidolite lithium micas at its Reung Kiet project in southern Thailand.

Notable intersections include a 14.85m wide pegmatite from 90.1m and a 18.4m thick pegmatite from 130.7m in RKDD031 and 31.4m of composite pegmatite thickness from 42.3m in RKDD030.

Significantly for Pan Asia Metals (ASX:PAM), the second intersection of mineralisation at RKDD031 represents a previously unknown pegmatite that appears to have been mined in the northwest corner of the pit but extends to at least 100m down-dip where it was intersected while remaining open in all directions.

Additionally, the mineralisation in RKDD031 represents the northernmost intersections of pegmatite to date, which remains open to the north.

While samples from the latest drillholes are being processed, portable XRF analysis of the lepidolite has identified the lithium indicator elements rubidium, caesium and manganese.

The company is focused on lepidolite, a lithium-rich mica mineral that peer feasibility studies suggest is the lowest cost source of lithium thanks in part to the suite of ancillary minerals such as tin, tantalum, caesium and rubidium that can reduce the overall cost of extraction.

The potential for lower costs and a low carbon footprint was also the fundamental driver behind the recently announced Kata Thong Geothermal Li and Hard Rock Li/Sn project.

“Drilling continues to meet expectations and in hole RKDD031 has exceeded expectations as a second unexpected pegmatite of considerable width was intersected at depth,” managing director Paul Lock noted.

“We are rapidly progressing to a mineral resource and we are targeting the delivery of a scoping study in the first quarter of calendar year 2022.

“Our aim is to deliver a mineral resource which is sufficient to operate a 10,000 tonne per annum lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate plant for 10 plus years, initially.”

Drilling is ongoing at the Reung Kiet prospect and will progress to the Bang I Tum lithium prospect.

pan asia metals reung kiet drilling
Reung Kiet Prospect, showing drilling, surface geochemistry and old pit. Pic: Supplied

Other drill intersections

Besides the intersection of a second pegmatite at RKDD031, drilling on the whole 1km long trend – that remains open to the north, south and down-dip on many sections – continues to support the company’s belief in Reung Kiet’s prospectivity.

On Section F, RKDD026 intersected numerous pegmatites from 6.1m to 81.5m, supporting the current interpretation of the western margin of the pegmatite swarm.

The aggregate 13.8m width of pegmatite includes individual dykes up to 2.65m wide, most of which contain lepidolite.

Lepidolite was also observed in all of the other recent holes.

This article was developed in collaboration with Pan Asia Metals, 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.