Pilbara Minerals encounters new zones of thick lithium mineralisation

/in /by

THE DRILL SERGEANT: Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) has received results from a recently commenced program of sterilisation and strategic development and resource extension drilling at the company’s 100 per cent-owned Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project, located near Port Hedland in Western Australia.

Pilbara Minerals has received results for the first 22 Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes completed since the drilling program kicked off in September targeting extensions to known near-surface pegmatites the company considers to have potential to add material tonnes to the existing resource base and assist with final pit designs.

The program also involves sterilisation drilling to define final locations for key site infrastructure including waste dumps.

Results from the Far East zone have extended the mineralisation to both the north and south.

Numerous wide, shallow intercepts of lithium (down-hole widths of 10 to 22m) have been returned from a single, large pegmatite in the Far East zone which extends over 1,000 metres.

New intercepts include:

PLS798
27 metres at 1.73 per cent lithium oxide (Li2O) from 47m;


PLS799
19m at 1.56 per cent Li2O from 75m;


PLS801
22m at 1.89 per cent Li2O from 44m;


PLS802
19m at 1.85 per cent Li2O and 104ppm tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) from 87m;


PLS827
14m at 2.14 per cent Li2O from 42m;


PLS913
19m at 1.53 per cent Li2O from 82m;


PLS944
18m at 1.28 per cent Li2O from 79m; and


PLS945
13m at 1.41 per cent Li2O and 108ppm Ta2O5 from 133m.

Resource extension drilling at South End indicates the pegmatite remains open to the south, with widths of high-grade mineralisation returned, including:


PLS911
13m at 1.79 per cent Li2O from 121m;


PLS513A 
26m at 1.53 per cent Li2O from 34m;


PLS513A 
7m at 1.51 per cent Li2O from 64m; and


PLS909
7m at 1.52 per cent Li2O from 1m.

“Most of the drilling we are now doing is designed to assist our mine design team by sterilising locations for key surface infrastructure and helping to finalise open pit designs,” Pilbara Minerals managing director and CEO Ken Brinsden said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“It seems that wherever we drill, we find more pegmatites – a nice problem to have but one that needs to be fully dealt with before we start construction.

“For example, we knew about the presence of the Far East Zone but we needed to fully evaluate this area as it trends into the proposed location of some of our key waste dumps.

“As it has transpired, the recent drilling has extended this zone for over a one kilometre strike length and it remains open.

“This has the potential to make a material contribution to our overall resource, but will also shape our mine infrastructure planning.

“Overall, the recent drilling has continued to highlight the presence of numerous large lithium-bearing pegmatites outside of the existing resource boundary.

“Pilgangoora is already established as one of the largest hardrock lithium deposits in the world, but we still have plenty of additional pegmatite targets that have received little or no drill testing – plus we will have all of the additional Dakota Minerals tenure to test in the future, plus the Dakota resource itself.

“While our main focus remains on the financing, development and delivery of the project, we will continue to run a strategic exploration effort aimed at growing our high-grade resource and reserve inventory and reinforcing Pilgangoora’s position as a leading low-cost lithium production project.”

Website: www.pilbaraminerals.com.au