Segue Resources (ASX:SEG) has confirmed a lithium discovery through its maiden drilling program at its 100% owned Malinda Lithium Project located in Western Australia.
The 2,430-metre, 17-hole reverse circulation program discovered major mineralised lithium and tantalum intersections across multiple pegmatites.
Assay results from the first six holes have confirmed significant lithium and tantalum mineralisation with intersections including 14 metres at 1.25% lithium oxide and 12 metres at 335ppm tantalum pentoxide.
The drill program was designed to test four prospects which had been defined by previous soil sampling and rock chip programs.
Steven Michael, managing director, commented: “As soon as the tenement (E09/2169) was granted in May 2017, we applied for and commenced a maiden reverse circulation drilling campaign, which has intersected extensive pegmatite swarms with outstanding lithium and tantalum grades for a first pass drilling program.”
Drill result details
The 2,430 metre reverse circulation drill program was designed to test the lateral extent, depth and orientation of four lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) prospects.
Assays have been received for six of the 17 complete holes.
Highlights include:
- 13 metres at 1.01% lithium oxide from 107 metres including 7 metres at 1.26% lithium oxide;
- 23 metres at 1.02% lithium oxide from 110 metres including 14 metres at 1.25% lithium oxide;
- 13 metres at 1.01% lithium oxide from 16 metres and 11 metres at 323ppm tantalum pentoxide; and
- 17 metres at 280ppm tantalum pentoxide from 45 metres including 12 metres at 335ppm tantalum pentoxide.
12 months to discovery
Segue commenced systematic exploration of the Malinda Lithium Project 12 months ago after identifying the Thirty Three Supersuite as a fertile and highly fractionated granitic suite which had not been explored for its lithium potential.
After completing a sample stream sediment survey over the company’s 1,100 square kilometre project area, a significant multipoint anomaly was identified near Reid Well.
Follow-up soil and rock chip sampling highlighted four main swarms of pegmatites over a 1.8x1.2 kilometre area with highly anomalous lithium and tantalum values.
Next steps
Assay results for the remaining 11 holes are expected to be announced by the end of September 2017.
The pending assays include thick pegmatites intersected including 26 metres of pegmatite from surface observed in one hole and multiple pegmatite intersections from another totalling 58 metres.
The next reverse circulation drilling program will commence in November 2017 and will systematically step out from current intersections to better understand pegmatite variability and to begin work towards a maiden resource estimate in the March quarter 2018.