St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ) has fielded further highly encouraging results from lithium exploration at the Mt Alexander Project in WA’s Goldfields, including early indications that the maiden drill program has intersected lithium-bearing pegmatites below surface.
Multiple intervals of pegmatite
Multiple intervals of pegmatite – up to 13 metres thick – have been intersected from surface with visible lithium-bearing minerals logged in reverse circulation (RC) drill chips.
The initial RC holes have confirmed the near-surface continuity of the pegmatite outcrop where rock chip samples have returned assays of up to 3.25% lithium dioxide (Li2O).
The RC drilling is the first phase of a major drill program planned to test six outcropping lithium-bearing pegmatite dykes at the Jailbreak prospect on two licences – one 100% St George-owned and the other owned with IGO (75% St George and 25% IGO).
The Jailbreak prospect showing pegmatites with high-grade lithium, caesium, tantalum and rubidium assays. Red text boxes show latest significant rock chip assays.
Highlights
The company welcomes news that 13 rock chips have returned assay values of more than 1% Li2O across five pegmatite dykes within a north-south zone extending up to 1.7 kilometres, confirming prospectivity and expanding the footprint of lithium-bearing pegmatites at Jailbreak.
Numerous high-grade lithium assays returned in second batch of rock chip samples submitted for laboratory assay including:
- 3.25% Li2O, 225 parts per million (ppm) caesium oxide (Cs2O), 53 ppm tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) and 1.24% rubidium;
- 1.89% Li2O, 180 ppm Cs2O, 86ppm Ta2O5 and 0.63% rubidium;
- 1.35% Li2O, 307pm Cs2O, 192ppm Ta2O5 and 0.77% rubidium; and
- 1.24% Li2O, 96ppm Cs2O, 93ppm Ta2O5 and 0.55% rubidium.
Assays are still pending for more than 100 rock chips from pegmatite outcrops sampled across 15 kilometres of the pegmatite corridor parallel to the Copperfield Granite.
Diamond drilling to commence
A diamond drill rig is due at Mt Alexander in coming days and will initially test for deeper extensions to the mineralised pegmatites at Jailbreak and assist with the geological interpretation of the evolving lithium targets.
Several diamond holes will then be drilled to test high-priority nickel targets including strong electromagnetic conductors and a large seismic reflector near the interpreted granite/greenstone contact south of the high-grade Cathedrals Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements (PGE) deposit.
Executive chairman John Prineas said: “Exploration is in full swing at Mt Alexander and we are delighted with the positive results being delivered by our team in the field.
“Exciting news is starting to emerge from our first-ever lithium drill program at the Jailbreak prospect which – though still at an early stage – has already confirmed the near-surface continuity of lithium-bearing pegmatites.
“The latest assays for rock chip samples have delivered our highest-grade lithium values at Jailbreak, providing further validation of the potential for pegmatite-hosted lithium mineralisation at Mt Alexander. Significantly, the high-grade assays now extend across five pegmatites mapped across a broad area.
“The drilling program will increase in scope next week with diamond drilling scheduled to commence alongside the ongoing RC campaign.
“With drilling of both our nickel and lithium targets at Mt Alexander, the next few weeks will be a very productive end to the year for St George and we look forward to reporting more results to shareholders as they come to hand.”