Premier African Minerals Ltd (AIM:PREM) said multiple thick high-grade zones were intersected at its Zulu lithium and tantalum project in Zimbabwe.
The assay results also indicated that the mineralisation in the main pegmatite ore body, which lies north and south of the Machakwe River, is almost exclusively spodumene with little to no petalite.
This effectively means that the lithium reported in the assay results is contained in spodumene, and by extension the lithium reported in Premier’s resource statements related to the main ore body is indicative of the spodumene content, said chief executive George Roach.
“Whilst the pilot plant will need to demonstrate the recoveries, test work completed in 2017 by Anzaplan, indicated an 80% plus recovery. In effect, it will be possible to draw a direct relationship between lithium contained in the deposit and the gross contained spodumene.”
Spodumene is the most abundant lithium-bearing mineral found in economic deposits and typically has a higher lithium content than petalite, according to the British Geological Survey.
Significant results included 13.10 metres (m) at 1.66% lithium oxide and 174 parts per million (ppm) tantalum pentoxide; and 26.91m at 1.16% lithium oxide and 102ppm tantalum pentoxide.
“Work at site and on plant construction is proceeding well and at this time, we remain on target and within budget,” Roach concluded.