Piedmont Lithium (ASX:NASDAQ:PLL, OTC:PLLTL) Inc partner in the Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana, Atlantic Lithium Ltd (AIM:ALL, OTCQX:ALLIF, ASX:A11), has uncovered multiple broad intervals of visible spodumene outside of the current mineral resource during reverse circulation drilling at the flagship West African project.
The ongoing 26,500-metre resource expansion drilling has identified its longest continuous pegmatite interval this year of 106 metres in hole GRC1020 from 6 metres at the Dog-Leg extension target on the northern tip of the Ewoyaa main deposit.
Ewoyaa has a mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 35.3 million tonnes at 1.25% Li2O, of which 3.5 million tonnes at 1.37% Li2O are in the measured category, 24.5 million tonnes at 1.25% Li2O in the indicated category and 7.4 million tonnes at 1.16% Li2O in the inferred category.
READ: Piedmont Lithium partner Atlantic Lithium makes “excellent progress” bringing Ewoyaa into production
The visible coarse-grained spodumene fragment intervals seen at shallow depths include:
- GRC1017 – 51 metres of 25%-30% visually estimated spodumene modal abundance from 83 metres;
- GRC1020 – 74 metres of 20%-25% visually estimated spodumene modal abundance from 39 metres and a 41-metre interval of 20%-25% visually estimated spodumene modal abundance from 137 metres; and
- GRC1021 – 24 metres of 15%-25% visually estimated spodumene modal abundance from 93 metres.
These visual estimates are expected to be confirmed when assay results are delivered in 2-3 months.
Coarse fragments of visible spodumene evident from hole GRC1020.
Confidence-lifting outcome
Atlantic Lithium executive chairman Neil Herbert said: “In line with our aim of delivering an increased resource at the Ewoyaa Lithium Project, we are very pleased to report broad intervals of visible, coarse-grained spodumene in multiple drill holes near surface and outside of the current MRE footprint.
“These intervals further improve our confidence in delivering an updated MRE upon completion of the current drilling program in Q2 2024.
“We are excited to have intersected our longest pegmatite interval in the 2023 drilling program to date.
“Located outside of the current resource footprint and occurring only 6 metres from surface, the interval includes highlight intersections of visible coarse-grained spodumene over 74 metres from a depth of 39 metres and over 41 metres from a depth of 137 metres, respectively.
“The coarse-grained, P1-type nature of the spodumene fragments observed in reverse circulation drilling chips is very encouraging as it performs favourably in dense media separation-only processing, as planned at the Ewoyaa lithium processing plant, with good recoveries.
“We look forward to providing further updates from the ongoing drilling program in due course.”
Read more on Proactive Investors AU
