Drilling is now underway at Summit Minerals’ Barra lithium project in Brazil. Pic: Getty Images
Summit Minerals starts drilling for lithium pegmatites at Barra
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- Summit Minerals starts maiden drilling at its Barra lithium project in Brazil
- Drilling will test quartz outcrops believed to be extensions of previously unmapped pegmatite quartz cores
- Barra is along strike from the Miranda open pit where lithium-bearing pegmatites contain a large central quartz core
Special Report: Maiden drilling for lithium-bearing pegmatites is now underway at Summit Minerals’ Barra project in Brazil’s mineral-rich Borborema pegmatitic province.
While best known as one of the world’s most important sources of tantalum, rare earth elements and beryllium, the province also hosts lithium as evidenced by the presence of the existing third-party Miranda open pit lithium mine along strike from the four tenements that make up Barra.
Extensive ground mapping and sampling by Summit Minerals (ASX:SUM) has highlighted multiple, newly discovered quartz outcrops that are aligned along the predicted regional trend lines.
This is hugely encouraging as the pegmatites observed at Miranda are zonal and contain a large central quartz core with lithium mineralisation distributed broadly on each side of the core.
SUM believes the quartz outcrops at Barra represent potential extensions of previously unmapped pegmatite quartz cores, as they are observed to run northeast along strike from the mine.
Additional large quartz outcrops identified in the mapping program could represent multiple pegmatites running parallel to the main trend line.
Maiden drilling
The 3000m reverse circulation drill program, which is also supported by recent magnetic surveying and high resolution imagery, will test these new prospective areas.
It is expected to provide valuable information surrounding the prospectivity of the newly acquired tenements, using modern day exploration techniques which has been performed in this area.
“The commencement of the maiden drilling program at our Barra lithium project marks an exciting milestone for Summit Minerals,” managing director Gower He said.
“With extensive groundwork identifying promising quartz outcrops and regional trend alignments, we are optimistic about uncovering significant lithium-bearing pegmatites.
“This initiative not only underscores our commitment to systematic exploration but also highlights the potential of the Borborema Pegmatitic Province as a critical contributor to the global battery mineral supply chain.”
Drilling at Barra will be followed by detailed assaying and metallurgical analysis.
Results from these will guide the next phase of exploration and development for the project.
This article was developed in collaboration with Summit Minerals, 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.
