Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX:PLL, NASDAQ:PLL, XETRA:) has unveiled an updated global mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its flagship Carolina Lithium Project in North Carolina, US, with mineral resources of 44.2 million tonnes at 1.08% lithium oxide.
The indicated mineral resources for the project increased 101% to 28.2 million tonnes at 1.11%.
A definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the integrated 30,000 tonnes per year lithium oxide Carolina Project is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The company plans to file an inaugural technical report summary in accordance with the US Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K 1300 Modernization of Property Disclosures requirements in the company’s next quarterly report.
World-class resource base
Piedmont president and CEO Keith D Phillips said: “We are very pleased to have concluded our Phase 5 drill campaign and to further expand our world-class resource base.
“Carolina Lithium has one of the largest spodumene resources in North America, and the only one located in the United States."
Underpin DFS
“The increase in indicated resources of over 100% relative to resources previously reported under Australian standards, will underpin the definitive feasibility study for Carolina Lithium that we plan to publish later in 2021," Phillips said.
“The DFS will be another important step along the path to building America’s leading lithium business to support and enable the rapidly-growing electric vehicle supply chain in the United States.”
Updated MRE
The MRE includes an update to the mineral resources of the Core property and the Central and Huffstetler mineral resources reported in June 2021.
The update has increased the Core property MRE by 16% to 36.68 million tonnes at 1.07% lithium oxide.
Future exploration
Piedmont continues to evaluate newly acquired properties with the Carolina Tin Spodumene Belt for lithium mineralisation.
The competent person recommends the following actions to support the ongoing mineral resource development. They include:
- Investigate shallow portions of Core Property deposits deemed amenable to early-stage mining through infill drilling and appropriate surface methods, at 20 metres to 40 metres spacings. An understanding of the short-range variability of mineralisation, pegmatite dike orientation, and weathering should be developed, and measured resource classification criteria established;
- Model the extent of major metavolcanic and metasedimentary host rock units to support mine planning at the Core property to improve bulk density estimation and support environmental and geotechnical characterization of waste rock;
- Conduct infill drilling to increase data density and support the upgrading of mineral resources from inferred to indicated throughout the project;
- Undertake a study to identify new exploration targets and prioritise step-out drill targets that expand defined resource pegmatites; and
- To support exploration targets across its properties and to direct future property acquisitions, Piedmont should continue to synthesise a mineral system model for spodumene-bearing pegmatites along the TSB