Lord’s Phase 1 drilling has proved that Horse Rocks hosts a LCT pegmatite system. Pic: via Getty Images
Lord breaks into a gallop as drilling uncovers big lithium future at Horse Rocks
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Phase 1 drilling has proven that Lord’s Horse Rocks project is within a fractionated lithium-caesium-tantalum system with anomalous intercepts at shallow depths.
The company noted that near surface anomalism within the drilling data can be linked between sections over a 700m strike, which corresponds to elevated lithium in geochemical sampling.
Selected drill chips with elevated lithium, caesium and tantalum assays have been sent for mineralogical assessment, to determine whether the mineralisation is within fine-grained and weathered spodumene, petalite, holmsquistite, lepidolite, or muscovite.
Exploration is not limited to Horse Rocks. Lord Resources (ASX:LRD) has also finalised transfer of licences for the Jingjing project where additional pegmatite rock samples have confirmed LCT mineralisation.
“Ongoing generative work has continued on the company’s two critical minerals projects, Horse Rocks and Jingjing,” exploration manager Georgina Clark said.
“These projects are within proven LCT systems, with no historic lithium focused exploration, which we believe provides Lord with an excellent opportunity for discovery.”
Lithium exploration
At Horse Rocks, the geological interpretation indicates the pegmatites are a series of stacked sheets, dipping at a low angle towards the east while a structural control is evident to the placement of pegmatite intrusions.
The pegmatites also tend to thicken at or near the contacts of the north-south trending ultramafic and high-magnesium basalt units.
Additionally, the company believes that elevated lithium assays within sheared greenstone lithologies are likely to be from lithium-rich fluids coming from deeper pegmatite intrusions, which provides further evidence that lithium bearing pegmatites may be present deeper within the system.
Lord has also started generative exploration work at Jingjing with the acquisition and review of geophysical data, desktop targeting and a reconnaissance field trip.
The review of geophysical data has already delineated 46 areas of interest, based on a combination of radiometric response, structural interpretation and elevation. Of these, 24 were deemed to be high priority.
An orientation surface geochemical survey has commenced to determine the best technique for geochemical sampling over areas of sandy cover, to produce representative and robust anomalies.
This will guide further comprehensive geochemical surveys over the identified areas of interest.
Planning ahead
Lord is currently carrying out a structural review of Horse Rocks – including updating the magnetic and radiometric geophysical dataset – to assist with targeting the next phase of deep drilling.
This program, which is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2023 will test the highly fractionated pegmatites with further drilling down dip and along strike, focussing on intersecting structures and lithological contacts within the greenstones.
A structural review of the project, including updating the magnetic and radiometric geophysical dataset, will assist with the targeting of the next phase of deep drilling, anticipated to commence in Q3 2023, pending any additional required heritage clearance.
Phase 2 drilling anticipated to begin in Q3 to test highly fractionated pegmatites at depth.
This article was developed in collaboration with Lord Resources, 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.
