Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) is confident of increasing lithium returns as it continues to intersect thick, shallow dipping spodumene-rich pegmatites at its Salinas Lithium Project in Brazil, with one drill hole returning 16.17 metres (true thickness).
The company’s initial drill hole intersected three separate spodumene-bearing pegmatites down dip from high-grade lithium outcrop samples.
Drilling of the next two holes is now complete and all three holes have intersected the same three layers of pegmatites.
"Significant abundance" of spodumene
Preliminary logging of the drill core indicates that the pegmatites contain a “significant abundance” of coarse light green and purplish spodumene crystals throughout, with indications that the thickness of the intersected pegmatites is increasing down dip and along strike to the south.
Drill core showing spodumene minerals.
Three separate spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been intersected in all holes to date, with logging indicating an increase in the true width of all three pegmatites to the south.
Detailed logging, core cutting and sampling of the first three holes is progressing well, with the first samples ready for dispatch to the laboratory for analysis.
Given the early success, the company anticipates that the current drilling campaign will be expanded beyond the current program, and the potential for additional holes to be drilled based on logging.
Managing director Chris Gale said: “We are extremely pleased with the progress of the drilling campaign, as well as our initial observations of the drill core. We are continuing to intersect the three separate pegmatites in the drilling, but importantly, we have indications that these pegmatites are increasing in thickness along strike to the south, as well as down dip."
Potential expansion of campaign
“This is a significant observation from the new drilling, and while we are very encouraged by these early signs from this greenfields discovery and our Salinas Lithium Project, we will continue to develop our geological model as our fully funded drilling campaign progresses and we continue to step out and test further afield along strike and down dip," he said.
“Our field team is working hard to process the core, collecting all of the necessary geological, structural and mineralogical data before the core is cut and sampled for analysis. We are anticipating a four to six week turnaround time from the laboratory, with first results potentially around the end of March.
“We will continue to update the market on drilling progress, once analytical results have been returned.”