Maximus Resources Ltd has commenced an 18-hole ~3,000 metre reverse circulation (RC) drill program at the company’s Lefroy Lithium Project in the Eastern Goldfields Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) Province of Western Australia.
Maximus’ Lefroy Lithium Project is situated on granted mining tenements not far from Mineral Resources’ Mt Marion lithium mine and processing facilities.
Initial exploration at Lefroy confirmed a significant LCT pegmatite system, identifying high-grade spodumene-bearing pegmatites at both advanced lithium targets at the Kandui and Bird Rock prospects.
Geochemistry, geophysics and drilling have provided a strong framework for targeting concealed pegmatites in structurally favourable zones. The system remains largely underexplored, offering significant exploration upside.
The current ~3,000 metre (18-hole) RC drill program — targeting spodumene-bearing pegmatites at the Bird Rock and Kandui lithium prospects — is expected to be completed within three weeks, with assays expected three to six weeks after completion.
KOMIR farm-in
The multi-target RC drill program follows the decision by Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR) to continue with the Lefroy Lithium farm-in agreement until 2026, which includes follow-up drilling at the Bird Rock and Kandui lithium prospects.
Read more: Maximus Resources welcomes KOMIR commitment to continue Lefroy lithium farm-in
Under the joint venture, KOMIR will invest US$3 million (~A$4.8 million) in lithium exploration to earn a 30% interest in the lithium mineral rights across the Lefroy tenements.
KOMIR fulfilled its initial US$1 million (~A$1.6 million) exploration commitment under the Lefroy Lithium Joint Venture last year.
The remaining US$2 million will be invested over the next two years to complete the 30% interest acquisition.
Bird Rock
At Bird Rock, RC drilling in 2024 confirmed a sub-vertical, northeast-striking spodumene-bearing pegmatite beneath shallow soil cover.
The pegmatite at Bird Rock has shown consistent mineralisation, with a true thickness of up to 5-metres.
Previously reported intersections include:
- 5 metres at 1.81% lithium oxide (Li₂O) from 101 metres, including 3 metres at 2.33% Li₂O from 102 metres; and
- 5 metres at 1.45% Li₂O from 95 metres including 1 metre at 1.8% Li₂O from 96 metres and 2 metres at 2.19% Li₂O from 98 metres.
Two additional RC holes will be completed to test for the thickening of the pegmatites along the southwest strike.
Kandui
Multiple spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been identified at Kandui over a large target area of around 2-kilometres by 1.5-kilometres.
Drilling identified stacked spodumene-bearing pegmatites dipping southeast. Further drilling in 2024 linked pegmatite thickening to demagnetisation in mafic-ultramafic host rocks, providing a key exploration vector.
Previously reported intersections include:
- 6 metres at 2.23% Li₂O from 26m, incl. 4 metres at 2.88% Li2O from 27 metres;
- 6 metres at 1.11% Li₂O incl. 3 metres at 1.99% Li₂O from 91 metres;
- 12 metres at 0.39% Li₂O from 78 metres, including 2 metres at 0.87% Li₂O from 78 metres and 3 metres at 0.65% Li₂O from 83 metres; and
- 18 metres at 0.24% Li₂O from 116 metres, including 2 metres at 0.50% Li₂O from 119 metres.
Sixteen additional holes are planned to target demagnetised zones for concealed spodumene pegmatites and higher-grade intervals.
Lefroy Lithium Project map showing outcropping pegmatites and lithium anomalies, prospects Kandui and Bird Rock), and nearby lithium projects.