Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) and its joint venture partner Alix Resources Corp (CVE:AIX) at the Electra Project in Mexico have successfully applied the LIBS technology.
The portable LIBS technology allows for real-time, in-field lithium analyses and was successfully applied on the first reverse circulation hole at the Agua Fria prospect within the Electra Project.
Assays from two further drill holes have been received from Agua Fria and these also show good correlation between the laboratory assays and LIBS measurements.
The LIBS technology is set to revolutionise both the exploration and mining industries.
Historically, hand held technology such as portable XRF guns have been used for exploration but these systems have limitations detecting light elements such as lithium, carbon and sodium.
Lithium Australia and U.S. based SciAps Inc have been working in collaboration over the last two years to develop a practical means of achieving real-time lithium geochemical measurements.
This recent success has given the company the confidence needed to use the field-portable LIBS analyser for operation control during the remainder of the drilling.
Lithium Australia believes this real-time control will have a substantial effect on exploration cost optimisation during the first round of drilling in Mexico.
Adrian Griffin, managing director, commented: “The use of this technique to real-time control of drilling is a breakthrough that should deliver immediate financial benefits by maximising the effectiveness of the remainder of the Agua Fria drilling and other projects in Australia.
“The importance of this technology for lithium exploration cannot be over stated.”