• Torque has received consistent lithium results from a combined RC and diamond drilling campaign at New Dawn
  • A peak grade of 4.42% Li2O was returned following a vertically stacked pattern of mineralised pegmatites
  • The company hopes to grow the extent of spodumene-bearing pegmatites in the area

 

Special Report: A combined reverse circulation and diamond drilling program at the New Dawn project, 600m west of the Bald Hill mine, has uncovered consistent lithium results with a peak grade of 4.42% Li2O.

Torque Metals (ASX:TOR) recently completed 5,000m of reverse circulation (RC) and 1,000m of diamond drilling at New Dawn in WA’s Goldfields region, designed to test and expand some portions of the project’s maiden exploration target.

The target of 8-14Mt grading 1-1.2% Li2O encompasses just 40% of two development-ready mining licences. Previous drilling at the project was able to extend mineralisation more than 500m along strike.

This latest drilling campaign has returned multiple lithium-mineralised pegmatites in vertically stacked patterns, up to 28.8m thick, with significant intersections such as:

  • 13.11m @ 1.03% Li2O from 49.9m, including 5.48m @ 2.25% Li2O from 52.9m;
  • 15.77m @ 1.01% Li2O from 255.9m, including 4.08m @ 1.94% Li2O from 259.1m;
  • 7.23m @ 1% Li2O from 45.7m, including 4.91m @ 1.12% Li2O from 50.12m; and
  • 14.16m @ 1.01% Li2O from 196.7m, including 4.59 @ 1.71% Li2O from 205.7m.

TOR says core samples will be dispatched to Independent Metallurgical Operations to manage sighter metallurgical testing.

Meanwhile, RC drilling extended mineralised pegmatites to the north and south following a vertically stacked pattern, which remains open in all directions. Best results include:

  • 13m @ 1.05% Li2O from 67m, including 7m @ 1.86% Li2O from 69m;
  • 7m @ 1.03% Li2O from 50m, including 1m @ 4.42% Li2O from 51m; and
  • 9m @ 1.02% Li2O from 92m, including 4m @ 1.95% Li2O from 93m.

 

Exploration target shows promising signs for expansion

“Our most recent drilling campaign has again successfully intersected high-grade lithium,” TOR managing director Cristian Moreno says.

“Every drill hole consistently encountered vertically stacked pegmatites, indicating substantial mineralisation potential open in all directions.

“New Dawn’s initial exploration is already promising significant expansion potential.

“Torque is advancing its exploration endeavours at New Dawn and at the adjacent Paris gold project, where our objective is to extend the presence of spodumene-bearing pegmatites and capitalise on gold mineralisation potential.”

 

Prime position in an emerging lithium neighbourhood

Just 600m down the round from TOR’s ground is the Bald Hill mine operated by Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN).

It is the only processing plant in the emerging lithium district near Kambalda – and MinRes has not been shy about its ambitions to acquire spodumene deposits in the region or toll treat friendly companies with small resources in the district.

New Dawn is just 600m from the operating Bald Hill lithium and tantalum mine. Pic: Supplied (TOR)

 

The area has attracted juniors keen to prove up lithium resources in the hope they can be fed into the Bald Hill mine in the future, which could amount to a big payday.

Other heavyhitters close by include Arcadium Lithium (ASX:LTM) and its recently acquired ‘Madoonia’ tenements near Bald Hill, covering 440km2 in joint venture with Lithium WA Investments.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Torque Metals, 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.

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