Aldoro Resources Ltd (ASX:ARN) has welcomed the latest assays from mineral resource drilling at the Niobe Project in Western Australia.
The results of the first-quarter phase of drilling at Niobe are encouraging, with analytical results supporting the idea that there is mineralisation in shallow-intersected pegmatites.
Highlights
Sixty-five reverse circulation (RC) holes were completed at Niobe in March.
Wet chemistry results are in from the 63 holes that intersected pegmatites over 1,091 metres, where the results include:
- 4 metres at 0.24% lithium dioxide, 1,527 parts per million (ppm) rubidium, 12 ppm tantalum and 1,565 ppm caesium from 36 metres;
- 17 metres at 0.13% lithium dioxide, 1,717 ppm rubidium, 43 ppm tantalum and 177 ppm caesium from 1 metre;
- 4 metres at 0.11% lithium dioxide, 2,538 ppm rubidium, 54 ppm tantalum and 430 ppm caesium from 25 metres;
- 14 metres at 0.11% lithium dioxide, 1,741 ppm rubidium, 69 ppm tantalum and 272 ppm caesium from 11 metres; and
- 9 metres at 0.11% lithium dioxide, 2,356 ppm rubidium, 102 ppm tantalum and 222 ppm caesium from 17 metres.
The best individual assays were 1.81% lithium dioxide in NBRC052 at 31-32 metres, 7,624ppm rubidium in NBRC046 at 42-43 metres, 1,565ppm caesium in NBRC027 at 36-40 metres and 732ppm tantalum in NBRC053 at 61-62 metres.
Sampling suggests open structure
Analytical results confirmed the presence of rubidium, lithium, caesium and tantalum mineralisation in intersected pegmatite intervals at multiple levels below the surface.
Grades and additional ground sampling around the Breakaway pegmatite suggest the structure remains open to the east and could extend parallel to the main pit.
Encouraged by the results, the company has initiated a further 3,000-metre drilling program and is building a resource model around the Main, East and Breakway pegmatites.
Experienced lithium geologist appointed
It has also appointed an experienced lithium geologist, Stephen Barber, as exploration manager. Barber has more than 30 years of exploration, mining and mineral resource estimation work experience in Australia, NZ and Indonesia.
He has spent the past six years exploring for lithium in the Pilbara, including his previous role of exploration manager for Morella and its predecessor Altura Mining.
Additionally, 300 kilograms of mineralised samples have been dispatched to Professor Zhiguo He at the Central South University of China to fully understand the processing and beneficiation methodology for the Niobe ore.
Mineralisation found in pegmatite intersections highlighted in the Main, East and Breakaway pegmatites, with results received from drilling in the vicinity of the Breakaway, is suggestive of an open structure that continues at length towards the east.
This extension will be tested in the forthcoming Niobe drilling program.
What’s next?
Aldoro is now completing an assessment of the high-level resource potential of the contained lithium and rubidium within the completed drilling envelope at Niobe.
Additional down dip and extension drilling is imminent at Niobe to increase the potential resource size and build a resource model.
Extensional drilling will focus on a fenceline of drill holes to the northeast of the main pit pegmatite in addition to testing the eastern strike extension of the Breakaway pegmatite.
The July program is anticipated to further build the rare metal resource that has been delineated at Niobe via the first-quarter drilling program.
The shallow nature of the mineralisation allows for the consideration of open pit exploitation.
In addition, planning is underway towards progressing the development of the pegmatites with heritage and environmental studies to be conducted with the aim of converting the current prospecting licence to a mining licence.