Raiden Resources maps new key target zone ahead of maiden drilling at Andover South

Raiden Resources maps new high-priority target zone at Andover South
Drilling to commence imminently, covering 5000m
Seven target zones cover 4.2km strike across the entire Andover South pegmatite field

Special Report: Raiden Resources has identified a new high-priority target zone ahead of a maiden drilling campaign at its Andover South lithium project in Western Australia.

Raiden Resources (ASX:RDN) has identified seven target zones in total, including the new zone – Target Zone 7– which is characterised by a high degree of fractionation.

The new zone resides on the north-western part of E47/4062, and is thought to contain a swarm of north-west trending pegmatites over an approximate strike extent of 650 metres.

Follow-up mapping and pegmatite analysis were carried out by Raiden and CSA Global geos across the project’s tenements.

It comes ahead of a hotly anticipated drilling campaign, covering ground next door to the world class Andover discovery owned by industry titans Mark Creasy, Gina Rinehart and SQM, which inspired a $1.7bn takeover this year by the latter two of its previous 60% owner Azure Minerals.

The company hasn’t yet decided if it will incorporate the new zone in maiden drilling, a decision that will come after further detailed mapping.

As part of the recent field work program, 91 sample locations were visited, where new pegmatite outcrops were identified and mapped.

There is a potential 4.2km strike of key target zones across the entire Andover South pegmatite field.

Raiden’s Andover South next door to Azure’s Andover project. Pic: RDN

Clearer idea

RDN Managing Director Dusko Ljubojevic said the aim of the mapping was to determine the extent of the Target Area 1 along the western strike extent.

“Target Area 1 is the key target for the company in the upcoming maiden drill program, where pegmatites are characterised by high fractionation and high grade Li20 mineralisation,” he said.

“As a result, we have determined that the highly fractionated pegmatites on the western periphery of target area 1 may have been structurally offset, resulting in a north-western strike extent.

“This work has defined further high-priority targets which the company will evaluate in the near future.”

Drill, baby, drill

Drilling at Andover South is set to commence any day now, with the company last week awarding contracts to experienced contractors Topdrill and JB Contracting & Quarries.

Diamond drilling will start in the first week of October with a single rig and a second to be mobilised shortly thereafter.

The initial contract is for 5000m and extends up to 10,000m at the discretion of Raiden.

The company also made multiple new technical appointments ahead of drilling, appointing Sean Halpin as Chief Operating Officer, Aaron Hawley as acting project manager for the Andover South lithium campaign, and Mike Roche as a geologist.

This article was developed in collaboration with Raiden 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.