First-pass mapping and rock chip sampling by Kali Metals Ltd (ASX:KM1) over its Marble Bar Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia has confirmed significant lithium potential and identified gold mineralisation on surface with results including up to 1.5% lithium oxide (Li2O) and 3.0 g/t gold.
“We are very pleased with the initial high-grade results of lithium and gold on surface at Marble Bar,” Kali Metals managing director Paul Adams said.
“These results confirm and expand on those received by Kalamazoo Resources previously and justify vigorous follow-up work."
Kali collected 23 rock-chip samples during the reconnaissance with significant results returned from three localities - the Panther Lithium Prospect, Tiger Gold Prospect and Sherman Gold Prospect.
The best results returned from the three areas explored to date are:
Panther Lithium Prospect - Up to 1.5% lithium oxide in rock chip samples from a lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite, locally up to 15-20 metres wide in outcrop (assumed >10 metres true width), with multiple outcrop samples of more than 1% Li2O over the 1.1-kilometre strike length.
Panther Lithium Prospect, showing outcropping pegmatite and rock sampling results.
Tiger Gold Prospect - Rock chips up to 3.0 g/t gold from multiple outcropping steeply dipping quartz veins (0.5-10 metres wide in outcrop) in monzogranite from geological mapping over a 400x400 metre area.
Tiger Gold Prospect, sampling location MBR022 (2.95 g/t gold).
Sherman Gold Prospect - One rock chip sample of 1.7 g/t gold from a north-south striking quartz sub-crop several metres wide in monzogranite.
Sherman Gold Prospect, sampling location MBR023 (1.71 g/t gold), looking north showing subcrop of quartz vein (pitted with cubic vughs) several metres wide.
Kali carried out this first reconnaissance over the Marble Bar Project area — targeting LCT pegmatites for lithium potential and quartz veining for gold potential — encouraged by the presence of the delineated lithium and gold deposits in the vicinity and following up on lithium and gold prospectivity identified by previous explorers.
In 2022, Kalamazoo located a 1.4-kilometre-long LCT pegmatite outcrop hosting lithium mineralisation of up to 2.81% Li2O.
Kalamazoo completed the first systematic exploration for gold over the southwest part of Kali’s current Marble Bar Project area in 2019 and identified noteworthy gold anomalism of up to 0.26ppm gold.
Marble Bar Project plan view showing Kali’s tenements and recent sampling locations.
Planned work
During the current quarter, Kali plans to complete additional outcrop sampling and mapping along the identified trends to inform the subsequent drilling design. No previous drilling has been undertaken at the three prospects.
Adams said, “This initial reconnaissance campaign has identified additional potential targets in this underexplored area.
“The ongoing fieldwork will further increase our understanding of the local geology, ahead of designing our drilling program over the lithium and gold prospects in 2025.
“Our Pilbara properties are in a good position, with major lithium company SQM recently expanding our earn-in JV agreement on our additional DOM’s Hill and Pear Creek tenements, in addition to the results released today at our Marble Bar Project.”