Pan Asia Metals’ lithium project continues to deliver strong visual results

Battery and critical metals explorer and developer Pan Asia Metals has completed eighteen more infill and extensional drill holes at its Reung Kiet lithium Project in Thailand.

Results continue to support the geological model of extensive lithium mineralisation hosted in lepidolite rich pegmatite dykes-veins and adjacent metasediments.

Plus, the mineralised zone is currently defined over a strike length of 1km and remains open along strike to the north and south, and at depth on many sections.

Assay results for holes RKDD062 to RKDD078 are expected in the near term.

Targeting lithium development in the near future

Pan Asia Metals (ASX:PAM) MD Paul Lock says they are seeing plenty of lepidolite in the drill core and expect the assay results to be in line with those previously received.

“Hole RKDD085 on cross section C delivered a phenomenal result, delivering 32.7m of pegmatite from 295.7m and 13.25m of pegmatite from 359.6m, demonstrating that the system continues down dip and remains open,” he said.

“This work demonstrates the scale of Reung Kiet, and given the state of the supply chain and the fact that only 13 lithium projects in Australia have a Mineral Resource in accordance with JORC 2012, Pan Asia Metals finds itself in a select group of lithium project developers which can deliver into the lithium supply chain in the near future.

“Of this group Pan Asia Metals is one of the few companies which is planning to produce lithium chemicals, to this end the concentrate test work has all but been completed – with very good results – and we are about to start sulphate roast testwork – this is a process that is robust, commercially proven for the manufacture of lithium carbonate from lepidolite, and which is competitively positioned on the cost curve.”

Mineral resource upgrade and scoping study plans

PAM’s objective is to continue drilling with the aim of increasing and upgrading the existing Mineral Resource – which will be used as part of a Scoping Study that plans to consider initial production of up to 10,000tpa of LCE and associated by-products.

The company is focusing on lepidolite as a source of lithium as peer group studies indicate that lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide projects using lepidolite as their plant feedstock have the potential to be placed near the bottom of the cost curve, and lepidolite has also been demonstrated to have a lower carbon emission intensity than other lithium sources.

Drilling at the prospect is expected to be completed in a month or so, with the aim then to commence drilling at the Bang I Tum prospect.

This article was developed in collaboration with Pan Asia Metals Limited, 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.