NickelSearch has no shortage of lithium targets at its Carlingup project. Pic via Getty Images
Mining
Special Report: NickelSearch continues to build its inventory of lithium targets after infill soil sampling confirmed significant lithium-caesium-tantalum anomalies to the west and south of the quarry at its Carlingup project.
The 108km2 Carlingup project sits within the Ravensthorpe greenstone belt – a highly prospective region for nickel sulphide deposits on the southern margin of the Archean Yilgarn Craton in WA.
While Carlingup is undoubtedly prospective for nickel – and even features a 155,000t nickel resource adjacent to First Quantum’s Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations (RNO) – NickelSearch (ASX:NIS) has chosen to focus on the project’s lithium prospectivity.
Recent work by NIS includes soil and rock chip sampling that defined a discrete area of LCT pegmatite-related anomalism immediately to the north of the quarry pit.
Infill soil sampling has now confirmed significant LCT anomalies measuring between 250m by 500m and 200m by 100m around the quarry.
Assaying returned values of up to three times background levels for lithium, 4.5 times for caesium and 4.7 times for tantalum.
This resulted in three anomalies being shortlisted, taking the total number of targets to be drill tested up to five.
These are a 200m by 100m anomaly coincident with a mapped felsic intrusion in the far west of the sampling area, a 500m by 250m anomaly in the north of the survey area with elevated gallium, and a discrete 200m by 100m anomaly in the centre of the sampling area.
“Our work so far demonstrates compelling evidence of the presence of a LCT pegmatite system, with anomalism within and to the north, west and south of the Quarry,” NIS managing director Nicole Duncan said.
“Based on these results, it is plausible to suggest that the LCT indicators observed over this area represent one large system.
“The assays from soil sampling to the west and south of the Quarry show levels of LCT pegmatite metals well above background levels (between 3x and 4.7x background). Rock chip samples taken during the mapping confirm that many of the pegmatite intrusions contain elements associated with LCT pegmatites.
“It is very encouraging to see these results, with pegmatites in the region generally having relatively weak surface expressions and better grades in the fresh parts of the system below. Drill planning is now underway to test under these strong anomalies.”
NIS has also completed geological mapping and associated rock chip sampling in the area around the quarry and the high priority LCT areas of interest.
This confirmed an association between the broad high priority areas and felsic intrusions (including pegmatite).
The company is now proposing to test for potential mineralisation sites within system at Carlingup.
As the areas proposed for drill testing are within private land that NIS entered under a 30- day permit issued by a WA Mining Warden, the company is in negotiations with the landowner and land occupier to facilitate drilling, access and compensation agreements.
This article was developed in collaboration with NickelSearch, 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.
Mining
Mining
Mining
