AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX:AVZ)’s latest round of drilling has revealed high continuity of lithium mineralisation at the Roche Dure prospect of the flagship Manono Lithium and Tin Project, with the first four of 46 planned holes demonstrating widespread, high-tenor lithium mineralisation outside the current pit design.
Best assays from these early results include 226.8 metres at 1.67% lithium and 307 parts per million (ppm) tin and 226.8 metres at 1.67% lithium, demonstrating the size and tenor of the orebody at Roche Dure.
AVZ collected samples from 16 completed holes. 75 returned lithium values grading higher than 2%, and three individual samples graded higher than 3% lithium, the highest being an intersection from 122 to 124 metres downhole grading 3.59% lithium.
Mineralisation increases in grade down-dip
“The first 4 holes drilled at Roche Dure, as part of AVZ’s commitment to the Early Works Program this year, are of the same lithium grade, tenor and intersection widths as previously encountered,” AVZ Minerals managing director Nigel Ferguson said.
“Whilst only 4 holes have been reported, samples up to hole MO22DD016 out of the 23 holes completed to date have been dispatched from site and these pending results will be reported soon.”
Locations of drillholes MO22DD001 to MO22DD004
“Of potentially significant interest is the reinterpretation of the Roche Dure orebody from about Section 8,200mN onwards which is well beyond the most northerly edge of the current pit design,” Ferguson continued.
“Hole MO22DD003 shows strong mineralisation with higher grade intercepts downhole but the lower dip of the orebody here, interpreted from both the reported hole and the lithological logging of new holes drilled nearby, is significant in that higher tonnages per section and vertical metre may be generated because of the lower angle of dip of the orebody moving north.
Intersections achieved by MO22DD003 drilled on section 8,200mN
“Further work is required in these areas, but this is an encouraging and unexpected development.”