United Lithium Corp (CSE:ULTH, OTC:ULTHF) told investors that it has completed a bedrock and soil sampling program at its 100%-owned Liberty Project in South Dakota.
The company said the 2023 program covered approximately 6,000 hectares (ha) within the Black Hills Mining District and was designed to follow up on a 2022 reconnaissance sampling program, conducted at the time of staking.
It noted that the 2022 program revealed the highest-grade rock chip sample assay to date from the Liberty project at 1.51% lithium oxide (Li2O) from outcropping bedrock samples.
“Our Liberty Project is surrounded by past producing pegmatite mines and has demonstrated widespread high-grade lithium hosting samples at surface,” United CEO Scott Eldridge said in a statement.
“For the first time in decades, the historically important Black Hills Mining District has been reignited by our immediate neighbor, Iris, who recently announced a discovery drill hole of 60 m of 1.21% lithium oxide.”
United Lithium said the surface program geologically mapped exposed pegmatite bodies and collected more than 600 bedrock outcrop samples for assaying.
In addition, over 100 soil samples were collected along survey lines in areas of less outcrop, but proximal to partially exposed, lithium-bearing pegmatites. It said results of laboratory analyses, combined with real-time field results from LIBS analyses for 2023 samples, and 2022 results will be used to identify areas prospective for future drilling.
Fertile area
The company noted that the Black Hills region produced significant amounts of lithium in the 1940s and 1950s from pegmatites across several historical mines. It controls a highly prospective area compromising 729 claims (6,000 ha) making it one of the largest lithium explorers in the district.
“Given the fertile nature of the area, we are strongly motivated to advance Liberty towards a maiden drill campaign,” Eldridge added.
“We are extremely pleased with preliminary LIBS readings of up to 1.65% lithium oxide and anticipate positive confirmation from laboratory assay results. Additionally, we received numerous LIBS results on our claims just west of Beecher.
“The initial 2022 results were very positive, encouraging us to follow up with a more detailed program in 2023. We will interpret the field and lab results to identify high-priority drill targets aimed at making discoveries on this highly prospective property.”
United Lithium has a world-class exploration portfolio including projects in Europe and the United States.
The company is fast-tracking exploration efforts in the US with the goal of making economic discoveries that can further the US’ aggressive goal to produce its own domestic lithium and supply its growing EV industry.
Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com