Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) has uncovered a new pegmatite zone at depth while exploring the Colina prospect in one of Brazil’s most prospective lithium provinces.
Colina is one of several targets within the Salinas Lithium Project, where Latin has uncovered more wide, spodumene-bearing pegmatites below previously reported intersections.
In fact, one of the latest drill holes fielded 7.46 metres of pegmatite mineralisation, estimated to contain between 15% and 20% spodumene.
Meanwhile, diamond drilling at Colina’s centre confirmed a previously reported wide spodumene pegmatite intersection in an earlier drill hole, returning 25.24 metres at 1.25% lithium oxide from 94.14 metres.
Moving ahead, Latin is planning preliminary dense media separation (DMS) metallurgical test-work on the Colina prospect’s drill core as a part of its fast-track strategy.
Scratching the surface at Colina
Speaking to the findings at one of Salinas’ pre-eminent prospects, Latin exploration manager Tony Greenaway said drilling was returning some of the best hits, highlighting the central zone as a priority area.
“The discovery of a new spodumene pegmatite at depth in hole SADD020, below all our previously reported pegmatites, has highlighted the upside at Colina,” he explained.
“We know we have additional pegmatites to test further out to the west of Colina and now we have proven the potential for additional stacked pegmatites at depth.
“The more we drill at Colina, the better this prospect seems to get."
Resource drilling and test-work underway
Digging deeper into the results from drill hole SADD016 — which reported the 25-metre intersection — Latin also uncovered 7 metres at 1.52% lithium oxide from 97 metres at 9.19 metres at 1.51% lithium oxide from 109 metres.
A closer look at the next hole up, SADD017, has indicated multiple, separate, wide pegmatites and Latin’s field team estimates there are material spodumene zones in the logged material.
In addition to these two results, hole SADD020 — drilled roughly 260 metres south of SADD016 — has uncovered a new, thick pegmatite below any previously reported intersections.
The hole reported a 7.46-metre zone of spodumene-bearing pegmatite at 207.08 metres deep, with logging estimating between 15% and 20% spodumene content.
All things considered, Latin believes the results highlight the upside potential for new pegmatite zones within the Colina prospect.
More large drill rigs are expected to hit the ground shortly — and drill to greater depths — so the explorer plans to make the most of their capabilities and explore this new zone.
Greenaway continued: “Based on this newly discovered pegmatite, the company will continue to push our drilling below our previous target depths.
“We are also very pleased to get some initial metallurgical test-work underway.
“We have had very productive discussions with a number of specialist consultant groups during the recent PDAC conference including metallurgical, mining and environmental permitting consultants.
“We outlined and have initiated some dense media separation test-work, which will provide the company with preliminary recovery and potential lithium concentrate grades.
“[This will also guide] a more detailed metallurgical test-work program to be undertaken as part of the company’s strategy to fast-track our exploration activities to a maiden JORC mineral resource.”