Pioneer Resources Ltd (ASX:PIO) has provided a drilling update for its Pioneer Dome Project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, including the Sinclair Zone caesium deposit.
Diamond drilling was principally undertaken to infill five sections with the strongest caesium mineralisation in the form of the mineral pollucite in preparation for open pit mine design work.
The program totalled 20 drill holes and produced 1,330 metres of core.
Of these, 15 holes targeted caesium or lithium mineralisation and four holes were completed adjacent to the proposed pit walls to provide geotechnical information.
Continuity of mineralisation helps de-risk project
Each of the key sections returned pollucite intersections in line with earlier modelling.
Results included 11.1 metres at 17.43% caesium from 38.2 metres and 5.7 metres at 29.6% from 37.7 metres.
Managing director David Crook said “The Sinclair deposit is proving an exciting opportunity for the company as it moves towards its first mining operation.
“This round of drilling confirmed the continuity of the pollucite mineralisation, significantly de-risking the project from an ore supply perspective.”
Lithium mineralisation also detected
In addition to the caesium mineralisation, broad zones of a range of other alkali-metal minerals, including lithium and potassium, were consistently intersected.
These included 25 metres at 2.14% lithium from 42 metres and 16.4 metres at 2.3% lithium from 40 metres.
As this material will be ‘mined through’ to access the pollucite, the company will stockpile these minerals, and it is advancing commercial offtake discussions with third parties.
Revised mineral resource estimate
With lithium and caesium results at hand, Pioneer is revising the mineral resource estimate for caesium.
The open pit design and confirmation economic study are on track to be concluded by the end of May 2018.
The next pass of reverse circulation drilling is underway, focusing on areas immediately north of the Sinclair Zone caesium deposit.
This will principally target lithium minerals but will also supply information to enable future caesium exploration.