Pan Asia sampling proves up tasty new lithium zone at Bang I Tum

Pan Asia’s rock chip and soil sampling has uncovered a new zone at the Bang I Tum prospect in southern Thailand that is prospective for lithium in the form of lepidolite.

Of the 64 samples taken from the new target zone, which is about 800m long and 200m wide with an interpreted epidolite rich pegmatite dyke and vein swarm, 44 returned an average of 1.56% lithium oxide.

Additionally, 12 of the samples returned more than 2% lithium oxide with a top grade of 2.62% lithium oxide.

This was supported by soil sampling yielding lithium anomalies, expanding the exploration potential of the Bang I Tum prospect and providing further support to Pan Asia Metals’ (ASX:PAM) Exploration Target of between 8 and 14 million tonnes grading from 0.5% to 0.8% lithium oxide.

Twice the size

That the new zone is about twice the size of the drill-supported Exploration Target, which is located immediately to the southeast, highlights just how much lithium might be present at the prospect.

“Official assays confirm the robustness of this newly identified prospective zone at Bang I Tum, which is twice the area of that which defines the current Exploration Target 8-14 Million Tonnes at 0.5% to 0.8% Li2O, which complements PAM’s Inferred Mineral Resource of 10.4 Million Tonnes at 0.44% Li2O for 113,000 tonnes LCE at the Reung Kiet Lithium Prospect about 8km to the southwest,” managing director Paul Lock said.

“PAM’s initial aim is to define an Ore Reserve sufficient to produce 10,000t LCE for a minimum 10 years, we are progressing towards this and with a successful drilling program at Bang I Tum we could surpass it.

“Our objective is to value add what we mine, to this end there is a lot of activity in Thailand and the region, Mercedes has confirmed that it will produce the EQS EV in Thailand and Eve Energy recently announced plans to produce the 21700-type cylindrical batteries in Malaysia to support the local and Southeast Asian electric two-wheeler and power tool manufacturers.”

Results and future activity

The assay results and observed geology indicate that a new and highly prospective zone has been discovered, with lithium being hosted in lepidolite rich aplo-pegmatite dykes and veins.

It is located immediately northwest of the Exploration Target and maybe considered its extension.

Pan Asia intends to drill test this newly discovered zone in conjunction with drill testing the existing Exploration Target, which is expected to start in the next two months.

It also intends to carry out metallurgical test work to evaluate potential metallurgical performance of the mineralisation as well as additional follow-up sampling and mapping to further refine and potentially expand the prospective zone to the south.

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