Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX:SYA) aims to increase resources as part of a definitive feasibility study at the Authier Lithium Project in Quebec, Canada.
The study is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018.
Authier has a resource estimate of 18.35 million tonnes at 1.02% for 186,953 tonnes of lithium and 88% is in the measured and indicated categories.
READ: Sayona Mining starts definitive feasibility study for Authier Lithium Project after positive prefeasibility
Corey Nolan, chief executive officer, said: “The objective is to expand the size of the resource and reserve during the continuation of drilling in 2018.
“This would significantly enhance the positive economics demonstrated in the recent optimised pre-feasibility study.
“All new drilling data will be incorporated into the resource models for the definitive feasibility study.”
Phase III drilling program
Sayona is undertaking phase III drilling at the project.
The initial focus was collecting up to five tonnes of drill core for a pilot metallurgical testing program, which will start in early 2018.
After the Christmas break infill definition drilling will take place in the main resource zone aimed at reducing the life-of-mine waste to ore ratio.
The company hopes drilling will also provide better definition and potential expansion of the main ore body.
Further drilling will seek to expand the small resource at the northern pegmatite zone.