Stelar Metals Ltd (ASX:SLB) is ready to kick off an inaugural hard rock lithium drilling program at its Trident Lithium Project near Broken Hill in New South Wales.
The program will comprise 3,000 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling, planned to test the historic lithium prospects where high-grade rock chips of up to 8.7% lithium have been returned.
Trident is about 50 kilometres north of Broken Hill in the Euriowie Pegmatite Field, an area highly prospective for hard rock lithium mineralisation.
Uncover “untapped potential”
Stelar CEO Colin Skidmore said: “We are thrilled to have everything in place for the inaugural drill program at Trident, to finally uncover the untapped potential of our project site.
“Our team worked incredibly hard in the lead-up, ensuring all approvals were granted and the program was meticulously planned to ensure drilling optimisation.
“This is a significant development for Trident since project acquisition earlier this year, and we look forward to sharing results as they’re returned over the coming months.”
Trident Lithium Project showing the location of major pegmatites, soil sampling areas, and expanded Environmental Assessment Study areas.
Drill program
The RC drill program will be the first to test the historic lithium mines at Trident, Sceptre, Lady Don and Triumph, as well as recently mapped LCT-pegmatites at Stag and Gloria.
The program is designed to be flexible to allow an initial assessment of the orientation and morphology of the known lithium-mineralised pegmatites.
Additionally, targeting below the known shallow workings and beneath the oxide zone will provide an opportunity to assess the lithium mineral zoning in the Trident Pegmatite System and test for the presence of spodumene, which typically weathers away near the surface.
Forward plan
The inaugural drill campaign will be completed in November, with assay results expected to be returned in early 2024.
Mapping of other pegmatites in the Euriowie Pegmatite Field, including Typhoon and Carnival, is ongoing.