New Age approach uses CSIRO tech to identify high-grade Pilbara lithium

Cutting edge technology from the CSIRO has been used to analyse ultrafine soil samples for New Age Exploration and boy, is there a lot of lithium out in the Central Pilbara.

This wouldn’t come as a surprise, since those results come from the lithium explorer’s Quartz Hill and Bullock Well projects and just so happen to be surrounded by world-class lithium mining operations, the likes of Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora, MinRes’s Wodgina and De Grey’s mighty big Hemi gold deposit.

New Age Exploration (ASX:NAE) collected 5,300 samples on 200m x 200m grids over a number of LCT (lithium, caesium, tantalum) target areas at the projects and submitted them to LabWest for analysis as part of CSIRO’s Ultrafine+ NextGen Analytics project.

The NextGen workflow includes generating landscape models using machine learning, hyperspectral mineral scanning, undertaking multivariate PCA analysis and the calculation of exploration indices.

A helicopter-assisted field-checking exercise was also undertaken, to validate and field check all significantly anomalous areas.

3,420 samples were identified to contain lithium, 789 at Bullock Well and 2,631 at Quartz Hill.

Of these, multiple high priority pegmatite targets were identified for follow up drilling with lithium values ranging from 100 parts per million (ppm) to 843ppm.

NAE said these targets require drill testing and potential further extension with additional geochemical sampling.

“Subject to completing a program of works (POW) and land access approvals, drilling and further geochemical sampling will be undertaken in the upcoming Pilbara field season.”

NAE executive director Joshua Wellisch said that the detailed analysis is further confirmation of the exceptional potential of both Bullock Well and Quartz Hill to host high-grade, hard rock lithium mineralisation.

“The results demonstrate the technology and exploration methods the team is utilising are highly effective in the project terrain,” Wellisch said.

“The targets generated are a very exciting advancement in particular given their location on the edge of the granite margin hosting Wodgina, Mt Francisco and Pilgangoora.

“We look forward to continuing the exploration at these projects with a maiden drill programme in the upcoming Pilbara field season.”

This article was developed in collaboration with New Age Exploration, 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.