Oceana all set for some drilling samba after firming up Solonópole lithium potential

Oceana can now proceed with drilling at its Solonópole lithium project in Brazil after receiving a healthy dose of certainty that high-grade lithium spodumene is present.

This comes after samples taken from exposed pit walls at the western and eastern extremities and pit floor of the Mina Bom Jesus de Baixo pegmatite were found to contain spodumene mineralisation with assays returning up to 3.61% lithium oxide.

Lepidolite – another key lithium-bearing mineral – with up to 3.16% Li₂O reported previously by Brazil’s Departamento Nacional De Produção Mineral (DNPM) has also been confirmed by Ocean’s in-pit sampling.

Not only does the confirmation increase Oceana Lithium’s (ASX:OCN) confidence in the quality of the Mina Bom Jesus de Baixo target, but also in the prospectivity of the entire project, which features more than 17km of intermittent outcropping lithium bearing pegmatites.

Multiple lithium-bearing minerals

Chairman Gino Vitale said the presence of multiple lithium-bearing minerals and potential zonation on the company’s ground is an indication of substantial lithium enrichment in a well-recognised lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatite district.

“A maiden drilling program is planned to determine the actual dimensions, strike and dip of the Bom Jesus de Baixo pegmatite, which is difficult to map from surface due to limited outcropping exposures,” he added.

“Planning for the drilling campaign is well advanced and we look forward to commencing testing of this highly prospective target during the next month.”

The 3,000m reverse circulation program is expected to begin this month and will initially focus on the pit area at Mina Bom Jesus de Baixo and surrounds.

Historical mining makes for lithium prospectivity

The Solonópole permits cover historical artisanal mining sites that were previously mined for lithium, coltan (tantalum and niobium) and tin.

Over 20 historical small-scale mines have been identified in field exploration while first pass soil geochemistry has highlighted residual soil anomalies within the interpreted mineralisation corridor.

More recently, the company has acquired an option over acquired two advanced exploration permits that included the Bom Jesus de Baixo pegmatite which hosts a quarry where tourmaline gemstones and dimension stone were extracted.

This resulted in the exposure of an LCT pegmatite that is believed to be the largest found in the area to date.

The DNPM has also reported four lithium-bearing pegmatites within the same permit while Oceana’s work has mapped an additional four outcropping pegmatites that have yet to be tested.

Amblygonite – another lithium mineral – was also reported at Mina dos Porfilhos to the north of the permit, though its exact location was not recorded.

This article was developed in collaboration with Oceana Lithium (ASX:OCN), 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.