Perpetual snaps up Isabella project in Brazil’s prolific Lithium Valley

Isabella project acquired in Brazil’s prolific Lithium Valley
Rock chips sampled by the explorer show up to 5.62% Li2O
Several outcropping spodumene and artisanal workings evident
Pegmatite testing to start in August

Special Report: Perpetual Resources has snapped up the Isabella project in Brazil’s growing Lithium Valley region in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and has already sampled rock chips with up to 5.7% Li2O.

An advanced spodumene exploration project, Perpetual Resources’ (ASX:PEC) Isabella is a 962-hectare license in Brazil’s Minas Gerais State, wedged between resources companies that are proving up huge lithium deposits already.

The nearby establishment of Sigma Lithium’s monster 93.4Mt at 1.4% Li2O Grota Do Cirlo project and Atlas Lithium’s flagship Das Neves, where recent drilling intersected 1.47% Li2O over 95.2m, have shown how prospective it is.

A processing plant at Das Neves, just 500m from Perpetual’s Isabella, is due to come online in the fourth quarter.

Perpetual is now the latest mover in the hot region, with its early exploration success already opening a window to a discovery.

Isabella’s credentials

Geologically, the area is predominantly covered by two major units: the Teixeirinha Granite and the Ribeirão da Folha Formation – consisting mainly of quartz-mica schists and peraluminous mica schists.

A total of $535,000 will be paid to Mineracao Gavea for Isabella, where recent studies indicate the units contain some of the highest concentrations of lithium-caesium-tantalum in pegmatites in the Lithium Valley.

Perpetual Resources (ASX:PEC) — Perpetual’s new Isabella project and surrounding projects. Pic: PEC

PEC exec chair Julian Babarczy says we are pleased to have secured such a compelling and advanced spodumene exploration project.

“It is rare to have secured a project, in such a favourable location, with confirmed lithium mineralisation of over 5% Li2O,” Barbarczy said.

“Importantly, the acquisition of the Isabella project should fast track the timeline to Perpetual’s maiden drill program and due to the outcropping and exposed nature of the identified spodumene bearing pegmatite, this should also significantly increase the likelihood of drill result success.”

On the cards

Starting in August, the Perpetual exploration team will launch a high-impact prospectivity assessment on the Isabella license, testing all pegmatites and artisanal workings while engaging with local landowners.

With an in-country team ready to deploy, PEC is kicking off development through rock-chipping, mapping, soil sampling and target-truthing, utilising the machine learning hyperspectral analysis that was conducted in May 2024.

Environmental approvals will be expedited to ensure a clear pathway to drilling and results from upcoming fieldwork are expected to be released in late Q3 this year.

This article was developed in collaboration with Perpetual Resources, 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.