Trigg’s Lake Throssell could be a multi-decade SOP producer

Trigg Mining’s (ASX: TMG) Lake Throssell project is potentially a very large and high-grade sulphate of potash (SOP) deposit with room to grow.

The company has now defined an exploration target of between 7.5Mt and 27Mt grading between 9,000 and 10,000 milligrams per litre (mg/L) SOP for a roughly 70km strike of the interpreted palaeovalley.

SOP is a premium grade fertiliser that provides both potassium and sulphur – key elements required for the healthy growth of plants – while the absence of chloride makes it ideal for leafy, chloride-intolerant crops that are typically high-value and in soils with high salinity.

While the exploration target is conceptual in nature, it nonetheless demonstrates the potential for the development of a significant multi-decade SOP production centre at the project with proximity to infrastructure and services.

And there is room for this to grow as Lake Throssell actually stretches over 112km of strike with additional tenements under application to the north and south that could further increase the size of the exploration target.

Managing director Keren Paterson noted that the company is already evaluating the project’s potential with aircore drilling underway and further field work planned to expand its knowledge of the large, high-grade SOP system.

“These early results are very encouraging and support our belief in the potential of Lake Throssell to host a sustainable long-life, low-cost source or primary sulphate of potash for global food security,” he added.

“Based on these very positive results the current air-core drilling program has been expanded to approximately 50 holes and is progressing well.”

This is expected to be completed by the end of February and will pave the way for the company to define a maiden resource for Lake Throssell.

Trigg Mining Lake Throssell location — Lake Throssell investigation locations Pic: Supplied

Lake Throssell SOP Project

Lake Throssell is located about 170km east of Laverton, Western Australia, which offers the project access to established infrastructure such as rail, airport and commercial mining support.

The upgrading of the Great Central Road to become the Outback Highway is well underway and expected to reach the mine gate before production begins.

Work to date has indicated that the project’s geology is consistent with other lakes and palaeovalley sequences in the region.

Trigg’s Lake Throssell could be a multi-decade SOP producer — Gravity survey anomaly showing the potential scale of Lake Throssell. Pic: Supplied

Assays of successful hand auger and heli-rotary auger drill programs conducted last year returned high-grade results of up to 14,500mg/L SOP in the surficial aquifer, with average grades of about 11,410mg/L SOP and higher concentrations appearing to be located on the western side of the lake.

High grades and multiple potential aquifers have also been encountered throughout the profile, demonstrating the potential for trenching and deep production bores.

This article was developed in collaboration with Trigg Mining, 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.