Lithium Australia NL’s (ASX:LIT) field reconnaissance and detailed mapping at the Youanmi project have confirmed the presence of lepidolite-bearing pegmatites at surface over a strike length of 2.5 kilometres.
The pegmatites occur as clusters, with individual pegmatite outcrops up to 400 metres long and 50 metres wide on surface.
Since much of the area surrounding the known pegmatite locations is covered by sheetwash, it is likely that the occurrence of lithium pegmatites is far more extensive than the few outcrops currently mapped.
Mapped Youanmi pegmatites
Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said: “The widespread occurrence of lepidolite in a location of outstanding infrastructure augurs well for the future of the Youanmi project.
“Anomalous caesium may also be indicative of further potential this pegmatite suite may have, caesium being in short supply globally, and resource inventories at historically low levels.
“We are planning on drilling both the lithium and vanadium occurrences in the near future.”
READ: Lithium Australia completes aerial survey at Youanmi
Information acquired during Lithium Australia's recently completed high-resolution aerial geophysical survey will be used, in conjunction with the detailed mapping and previous geochemical results, to define drill targets for lithium mineralisation.
Lithium Australia has committed to further investing funds into its work of commercialising operations at the Sadisdorf Lithium-Tin Project in Germany and ultimately producing cathode powders for lithium-ion batteries in Europe.
This commitment comes after the company has produced lithium from unconventional sources, including mine waste, using its SiLeach® metallurgical process route.