Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA) has commenced its Phase 3 drilling program at its flagship wholly owned Authier Lithium Project located in Quebec, Canada.
The diamond drilling program of up to 3,000 metres will collect up to 5 tonnes of drill core for a pilot metallurgical testing program.
The pilot program data will be used for inputs into the process plant design as part of the definitive feasibility study (DFS).
The program will also comprise of infill definition drilling within the main resource zone with the aim of reducing the current waste to ore ratio in that zone.
A potential expansion opportunity for drilling also exists in the northern pegmatite zone which intersected 7 metres at 1.36% lithium oxide from 15 metres in the last drilling program.
Finally, the program will see the completion of geotechnical drilling, which will enable finalisation of the pit wall slopes for the DFS.
The drilling and pilot metallurgy programs will be the last major work programs before completion of the DFS in early 2018.
Authier has a current Mineral Resource of 17.4 million tonnes grading 1.02% lithium oxide for 177,212 tonnes of contained lithium and an Ore Reserve of 10.2 million tonnes grading 1.02% lithium oxide for 103,725 tonnes of contained lithium.
Most recently, Sayona entered into an arrangement with Kalamazoo Resources (ASX:KZR) regarding its Pilbara gold exploration tenements.