A core sample littered with spodumene at the Blakala lithium prospect. Pic supplied: (FL1).
Spodumene alert: FL1’s drill program keeps intersecting lithium in every hole
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- Eight diamond drill holes for 912m now completed at Blakala
- Drilling identified a combined thickness of 233m of pegmatites from the latest five holes
- Assays expected in 2-3 weeks
Special Report: Explorer First Lithium is continuing to unlock the potential of its Blakala prospect within its Gouna project in Mali, completing eight diamond drill holes to date which all show spodumene mineralisation for a combined 430m in thickness.
Mali is vastly underexplored for critical mineral deposits. The last time First Lithium’s tenure was looked at was in the 1960’s, when Russian geologists identified lithium-bearing spodumene.
In fact, Blakala is one of just two Tier 1 priority lithium targets within the nation, as ranked by CSA Global in 2008 – the other being Leo Lithium’s (ASX:LLL) enormous 211Mt Goulamina joint venture project with China’s Ganfeng.
Blakala drilling ongoing
Eight diamond core drill holes have now been completed for 912m over 400m of strike, with all holes intersecting “significant spodumene mineralisation” from surface, the company says.
Holes BDFS04-BDFS08 showed a cumulative intersected pegmatite thickness of 67.28m, 52.26m, 41.90m, 31.87m and 37.86m respectively.
This follows from the last round of results, where BDFS02 struck a thick, 112.8m pegmatite with significant spodumene mineralisation.
All-important assays are pending, but strong visual estimates have spodumene levels as high as 20% — a promising sign ahead of deeper drilling.
First Lithium (ASX:FL1) says holes 2-8 are indicated to be the most well-mineralised with spodumene, with surface exposure and cross-section interpretation showing two large pegmatites with schist in-between.
This has spurred FL1 to accelerate exploration, with double-shift drilling operating the diamond rig 24 hours a day.
Simultaneously, trenching and channel sampling continues, with 38 samples collected from the surface outcrop. Additional channels are being planned to identify the spodumene content.
FL1 MD Venkat Padala says drilling continues to deliver exceptional results, consistent with significant spodumene mineralisation identified in the first two holes drilled at Blakala.
“With all eight holes hitting spodumene-bearing pegmatite to date we have gained a greater understanding of the Blakala pegmatite and further confidence that FL1 has identified a world-class lithium discovery.
“The operational team is meeting their daily target of +50m per day on the initial rig, with a second rig on-site imminently to accelerate the 6,000m drilling program.
“We are also eagerly awaiting the results from the first assays, expected in the next 2-3 weeks.”
This article was developed in collaboration with First 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.
