Lithium Australia Ltd (ASX:LIT, OTC:LMMFF)’s joint venture (JV) partner, fellow ASX-lister Galan Lithium Ltd (ASX:GLN), has made a new pegmatite discovery at Greenbushes South lithium property in Western Australia.
The new outcropping pegmatite is thought to cover more than 500 metres in strike and remains open. Mapping and geochemical sampling continues across the new discovery.
What’s more, new soil assays that are spatially associated with a prior pegmatite discovery have revealed up to 215 parts per million lithium at Greenbushes South, while further soil and rock chip assay results are pending.
The UltraFine+ assay method has also confirmed the presence of anomalous pathfinder element concentrations, such as arsenic and caesium.
In tandem, Galan advanced a pilot study to explore blind or buried pegmatite targets across the project area. Data processing is underway and passive seismic and gravity survey results are expected in the coming weeks.
Lithium Australia owns 20% of the Greenbushes South asset, while Galan holds the other 80% stake.
Similarities to Greenbushes Lithium Mine
Speaking to the findings today, Galan managing director JP Vargas de la Vega said that initial exploration outcomes at Greenbushes South had been excellent.
“The team is understandably excited about the fact that airborne geophysical targeting has successfully driven our field mapping and sampling focus, and already led to multiple new sizeable pegmatite outcrops being discovered,” he explained.
“It is also important to note that the discovered pegmatites have similar macroscopic mineralogy to those pegmatites described at the Greenbushes Lithium Mine to the north.
“Today’s results take us a step further. We now have confirmation of anomalous lithium concentration levels in the soil samples that were taken over the initial pegmatite discovery at the GS11 target zone.
What’s on the agenda?
Moving forward, plans are in place to kick off a resistivity study over Greenbushes South as part of Galan’s ground geophysics initiative. This is designed to help further define the new pegmatite at depth.
Vega continued: “Geological mapping and geochemical sampling activities are ongoing. There are further soil and rock sample assays pending, including those to be submitted from our newest pegmatite discovery.
“We have also launched a pilot ground geophysics program to overlay our exploration targeting efforts at Greenbushes South.
“All of this work is driving us towards the key outcome of premium target locations for our initial drilling program.”