Sipa Resources Ltd (ASX:SRI) has enhanced the prospectivity of its Skeleton Rocks Project in Western Australia’s Goldfields with new lithium targets identified from a further review of aircore drill results.
Initial results from this drilling confirmed anomalous lithium in previously untested greenstone units leading Sipa to further analyse the complete data set, both internally and vie external consultants.
Targets highlighted
This work has highlighted target areas where elevated lithium and other pegmatite-associated elements, including caesium and rubidium form coherent halos on the margins of the greenstone units, often in association with quartz veining.
These indications could represent the geochemical ‘halo’ to lithium mineralisation.
Lithium, caesium and rubidium halos identified in Skeleton Rocks assay results defining target areas for follow-up drilling.
The company is planning a follow-up drill program to test these targets and this is scheduled for the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of 2022.
In prospective area
Sipa Resources managing director Pip Darvall said: “The identification of these new lithium targets is encouraging, particularly given the location of this project; with active lithium exploration underway immediately to the east of the project area and significant lithium resources being developed at Mt Holland, 30 kilometres to the southeast.”
Skeleton Rocks is strategically located between the Great Eastern Highway and the Mt Holland Lithium Project being developed as part of a joint venture between Wesfarmers and Chilean mining major Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA (SQM).
Sipa’s Skeleton Rocks project showing the location of the area detailed in the figure above.
To be drilled
The elevated lithium, rubidium and caesium values at Skeleton Rocks are 4-5 times background levels and may indicate the presence of nearby lithium-bearing pegmatites.
These target areas will be tested via a follow-up drill program, after Sipa’s ongoing drilling at Paterson North and planned drilling at Barbwire Terrace and other projects.
This program will comprise a series of deeper holes angled to the northeast directly under the geochemical anomalies.