Core Lithium to deliver Finniss Lithium feasibility study update in first half
The Coronavirus pandemic is not expected to impact the company’s non-field work milestones in the near-term.
Company
ASX:CXO
Core Lithium Limited is an Australian lithium company and 100% owner of the Finniss Lithium Operation in the Northern Territory. The company also holds a portfolio of tenements in the Northern Territory and South Australia which are prospective for a variety of commodities, including base metals, rare earth elements, gold and uranium.
271 stories · page 7 of 14
The Coronavirus pandemic is not expected to impact the company’s non-field work milestones in the near-term.
Finniss Lithium Project resource estimate expected in coming weeks ahead of a feasibility study update in the second quarter of 2020 targeting significantly increased mine-life and substantially improved economics.
Core remains focused on the development of the Finniss Lithium Project; however, this new project presents an opportunity for the Core exploration team and NT experience to add value for shareholders.
Maiden ore reserve at Carlton to contribute significantly to an expanded mine life at Finniss Lithium Project.
Results indicate that the BP33 primary pegmatite body extends with around 40 metres true width for at least a further 100 metres vertically and remains open at 400 metres depth.
Core now holds over 3,250 square kilometres of granted tenements in the Anningie and Barrow Creek Pegmatite Fields.
The new intersection outside the resource at BP33 deposit includes 105 metres of strongly mineralised spodumene pegmatite.
The two deepest drill holes also intersected a second pegmatite body of up to 25 metres downhole, east of the primary body.
The company has signed commitments for output from its proposed processing plant and is negotiating more agreements.
Two shallow holes were drilled earlier this month at Hendersons West prospect to test the main body and both holes intersected pegmatites.
Core aims to begin spodumene concentrate production at the Finniss project in late 2020, subject to financing and regulatory approvals.
An application for the ancillary mineral lease has been lodged with the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources.
The increasing width and higher grades within the deeper parts of BP33 deposit highlight the potential for underground mining.
The acquisitions fit in with Core’s objective to make Darwin and the Finniss Lithium Project central processing and global lithium transport hub for northern Australia.
High-grade spodumene intersections have been returned from exploration and mineral resource growth drilling at a number of prospects.
Assays from the first round of reverse circulation and diamond drilling are expected within two weeks while the company has begun a second round of mineral resource growth drilling.
Funds raised totalling $11.8 million are now being used to progress the Finniss Lithium Project towards development.
With the DFS complete, approvals, additional offtake and project finance advancing and being finalised, Core is well placed to be Australia’s next lithium producer.
April 2019 DFS for the Grants Lithium Project returned a healthy NPV of $114 million with an IRR of 80% based on a 3.5 year mine life.
Exploration programs aimed at increasing mineral resources at the Finniss Lithium Project will begin in the coming weeks.