Pioneer Resources Ltd (ASX:PIO) has successfully highlighted caesium and lithium targets at its Pioneer Dome Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum Pegmatite Project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.
This includes a high priority, 450 metre caesium soil geochemistry anomaly with assay results above 0.25% caesium, with supporting high caesium-containing rock chips.
The company is planning to commence a drilling program later this quarter.
Pioneer has been awarded a grant of $112,025 under the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) by the Western Australia state government for the proposed drilling.
High-priority targets
Pioneer’s detailed field mapping and rock chip sampling returned a number of anomalous rock chips within a 450 metre zone, including up to 1.79% caesium, coincident with the caesium-in-soil anomaly.
This is the highest caesium rock chip assay result to date at Pioneer Dome, and could be an indicator of proximity to further pollucite mineralisation.
Pollucite is a rare caesium mineral that forms in extremely differentiated LCT pegmatite systems.
It is primarily used in the manufacture of caesium formate brine, a high value, high density fluid used in high temperature/high pressure oil and gas drilling.
The same rock chip returned other elements associated with mineralised zones of an LCT pegmatite including lithium (1.44%) and tantalum (186 ppm). Other rock chips returned up to 2.91% lithium.
The elevated caesium, lithium and tantalum anomalies define a prospective corridor within the Pioneer Dome Project located 7 kilometres from the company’s high-value Sinclair Zone caesium deposit.
Next Steps
Pioneer is currently working with the Ngadju Native Title Aboriginal Corporation to complete heritage protection and mining agreements, as the project is within a determined area of exclusive Native Title.
The aboriginal heritage protection surveys will then be undertaken paving the way for the drilling program later this quarter.
The company’s drilling will focus on the 450 metre caesium anomaly initially, and will expand onto other lithium targets.
Pioneer will also carry out detailed infill diamond drilling at the Sinclair Zone pollucite deposit, where detailed mine planning continues.