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Phase 1 soil sampling at New Age’s Central Pilbara projects in Western Australia has identified several extensive areas of exceptionally strong, coherent lithium anomalism.
The five lithium anomalies with coincident elevated pathfinder elements are up to 8km long, 3km wide and remain open in all directions.
New Age Exploration (ASX:NAE) has immediately initiated a helicopter-supported reconnaissance program to assess the priority areas, which have seen no previous exploration, in greater detail.
“The very strong results at both Bullock Well and Quartz Hill clearly demonstrate the exceptional potential our Project area has to host significant high grade, hard rock lithium mineralisation,” executive director Joshua Wellisch said.
“Each of the areas are defined by lithium values in excess of 150ppm and all are supported by all of the key multi-elements, including caesium; tantalum; tin and rubidium which are well documented associations of lithium-bearing ‘rare-metal’ LCT pegmatite mineral systems.
“The size and strength of the anomalism at Bullock Well in particular is staggering given it has been identified within an area that has had no previous exploration and our current sampling hasn’t closed it off yet.”
The Central Pilbara gold-lithium project is centred over the highly prospective yet under-explored Mallina – Whim Creek Basin of the Pilbara Craton.
It is located close to the world-class Wodgina and Pilgangoora lithium mining operations and the more recent (and play-opening) Hemi gold deposit.
Notable targets include two exceptionally robust lithium anomalies at Bullock Well which were identified proximal to the southeastern margin of a targeted granite pluton of the Sisters Supersuite – a confirmed source of spodumene-bearing pegmatites elsewhere in the Pilbara.
These anomalies range from 3km to 8km long, 2km to 4km wide and are defined by lithium values ranging from 150 parts per million (ppm) lithium up to a maximum of 843ppm lithium.
At Quartz Hill, three strong lithium anomalies with elevated pathfinder elements have been identified over strike lengths of 1km to more than 5km and widths of 1km to 3km.
They are defined by coherent lithium values ranging from 100ppm lithium up to a maximum of 225ppm lithium and are all supported by coincident elevated multi-element pathfinders.
The anomalies are situated several kilometres northeast of the historical Friendly Creek alluvial tin-tantalum mining centre within the western extension of the Wodgina Greenstone Belt, which also hosts the Wodgina lithium mine.
New Age will carry out an immediate follow-up helicopter reconnaissance programme to assess priority areas in more detail.
It is also waiting on a full assessment by the CSIRO’s Department of Mineral Resources as a part of NAE’s sponsorship of the CSIRO’s Ultrafine+ Next Gen Analytics Project.
Data from these activities will be used to refine and prioritise both gold and lithium drill targets.
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.
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