Pan Asia Metals Ltd (ASX:PAM) has received positive assay results from seven more drill holes completed at the Reung Kiet Lithium Project in southwest Thailand.
The drilling has defined extensive pegmatite dyke-vein swarms containing lithium mineralisation associated with lepidolite (lithium mica).
Results include:
- RKDD016: 13.5 metres at 0.85% lithium oxide, 519ppm caesium, 2.31% K, 0.34% rubidium, 571ppm tin and 201ppm tantalum from 2.8 metres.
- RKDD017: from 0 metres to 47.7 metres, 10.85 metres of aggregate pegmatite thickness at 1.23% lithium oxide, 562ppm caesium, 0.41% rubidium, 2.70% potassium, 588ppm tin and 193ppm tantalum; and
- RKDD018: from 1.5 metres to 44.8 metres, 14.0 metres of aggregate pegmatite thickness at 0.84% lithium oxide, 335ppm caesium, 0.28% rubidium, 2.16% potassium, 522ppm tin and 197ppm tantalum.
These new holes and the results from previously reported holes continue to support the geological model of extensive lithium mineralisation hosted in lepidolite rich pegmatite dykes and veins currently defined over a strike length of 1 kilometre, which remains open.
Trend continuation confirmed
Pan Asia managing director Paul Lock said: “We are very pleased with the assay results for drill holes RKDD016-022, with 5 of the 6 drill holes on the western side of the dyke swarm at RK South, confirming the trend’s continuation, and drill hole RKDD022 under RKDD002, which was drilled under the historical tin mining pit by PAM in 2019, confirming the continuation of the pegmatites at depth.
“In preparation for a Scoping Study to be delivered in Quarter 1, 2022, we are also measuring and reporting caesium (Cs), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), tin (Sn) and tantalum (Ta2O5), all potentially valuable by-products.
“Not only have we seen Li2O grades up to 2.09% in these assays, but we have Cs grades at just under 1,000ppm, Rb up to 0.63%, Sn up to 1,408ppm and Ta2O5 up to 490ppm.
“This is all very encouraging when considered in the context of the broader peer group.”
Drilling for a mineral resource
The Reung Kiet Lithium Project (RKLP) is one of PAM’s key assets.
RKLP is a hard rock lithium project with lithium hosted in lepidolite/mica rich pegmatites chiefly composed of quartz, albite, lepidolite and muscovite, with minor cassiterite and tantalite as well as other accessory minerals including some rare earths.
Previous open-pit mining extracting tin from the weathered pegmatites was conducted into the early 1970s.
Pan Asia’s objective is to continue drilling with the aim of reporting a Mineral Resource in accordance with the JORC Code 2012.
Lepidolite as a source of lithium
The Mineral Resource will be used as part of a Scoping Study that plans to consider initial production of up to 10,000 tonnes per annum of Lithium Carbonate Equivalents (LCE) and associated by-products.
Pan Asia is focusing on lepidolite as a source of lithium as peer group studies indicate that lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide projects using lepidolite as their plant feedstock have the potential to be placed at the bottom of the cost curve.
Lepidolite has also been demonstrated to have a lower carbon emission intensity than other lithium sources and the proximity of RKLP to installed hydroelectric power and the expected short transport routes may see the RKLP’s carbon intensity lower still.