Patriot clear to start drilling for lithium in Arizona

Patriot has secured approval to carry out maiden Phase 1 drilling at its Wickenburg project in Arizona where selective spodumene sampling has returned grades of up to 5.88% lithium oxide.

The drill program of 14 diamond holes totalling 1,015m will test the outcropping Dove West spodumene pegmatite at the historical Dove pegmatite mine and is expected to provide a better understanding of the lithium mineralisation in the shallow subsurface.

Analysis of the rock chips acquired earlier this year had confirmed the presence of spodumene at both the southern and northernmost outcrops of the Dove West pegmatite, indicating that it might be mineralised along much, or all, of its mapped strike length of about 440m.

This received further support from Patriot Lithium’s (ASX:PAT) maiden soil sampling program, which defined significant lithium and associated multi-element anomalism over a 450m long by 70m wide zone over Dove West.

“We are extremely encouraged by the excellent rock chip and soil sampling results from our Wickenburg project and look forward to commencing our maiden drilling program to better ascertain the mineralisation and extent of some of the more significant Dove West pegmatite outcrop,” managing director Nicholas Vickery said.

Drill program

The drill program is due to commence shortly following the company receiving approval to proceed from the Bureau of Land Management.

Holes will test the Dove West pegmatite in and around the historical Main Pit and Lower Cut workings.

This is aimed at getting a better understanding of the spodumene mineralisation within, as well as get a better indication of the depth extent, thickness and orientation of the Dove West pegmatite.

Phase 1 of this program will consist of seven holes totalling up to 420m and will be followed by a second phase of another seven holes for up to 595m (for total of 1,015m) if required following analysis of the visual results from the first phase.

The company is now in final discussions with drilling contractors and expects drilling to commence in the coming weeks.

Subject to the results of the maiden drilling, Patriot intends to undertake a more comprehensive drilling program in the latter part of 2023 to cover the northern section of the Dove West pegmatite, emerging target areas within the broader Dove, Mammoth and Vulture pegmatite trends as well as new target areas identified from these activities.

This article was developed in collaboration with Patriot Lithium, 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.