Astute Metals NL (ASX: ASE) (“ASE”, “Astute” or “the Firm”) is happy to advise that it has intersected additional lithium mineralisation in current follow-up drilling at its extremely potential 100%-owned Altair Lithium Mission in Nevada, USA. Drill-hole AL03 intersected:
- 13.7m @ 365ppm Li from 163m (535ft) to Finish-Of-Gap (176.8m/580ft).
This consequence has confirmed an extension of the mineralised Siebert Formation claystone 1.9km to the east of the preliminary discovery gap AL01, which intersected two beforehand introduced important zones of lithium mineralisation3, specifically:
- 33.5m @ 481ppm Li from 80.8m (265ft); and
- 33.5m @ 508ppm Li from 147.8m (485ft) to Finish-of-Gap (181.4m/595ft).
As well as, gap AL02, which was drilled on the jap extent of the Altair Mission roughly 5.4km east of AL03, intersected 4 zones of anomalous lithium-in-clays the place lithium values peak over 100ppm. It’s unclear at this early stage whether or not the intercalated claystone and effective gravels at this gap belong to the Siebert Formation or are a part of youthful, Quaternary-aged sequences. Nevertheless, the truth that the clays are lithium-bearing suggests the potential for greater grades close by in the event that they do belong to the Siebert Formation. A full desk of assay outcomes is offered in Appendix 3.
To proceed constructing on the exploration success achieved to this point at Altair, the Firm intends to allow extra holes to check for additional intersections of lithium claystone to the north and west of the Altair Mission in H1 of 2024, with additional drilling deliberate in H2.
Astute Government Chairman, Tony Leibowitz, mentioned:
“These very encouraging outcomes from Holes 2 and three wrap-up what was a particularly profitable first yr of drilling for Astute at Altair. The numerous intercept in Gap 3 confirms that the mineralized Siebert Formation horizon extends over a strike size of 1.9km, constructing on beforehand reported drilling. We now have numerous unfinished enterprise at Altair and we plan to allow extra holes there whereas we progress exploration actions on the thrilling new Crimson Mountain Mission.”
Background
Centred south-west of the township of Tonopah, within the coronary heart of one of many world’s most lively lithium exploration districts, the Altair Mission was strategically staked proximal to outcropping tertiary sedimentary host rock (identified domestically because the Siebert Formation) that’s identified to host claystone lithium deposits round Nevada. Such deposits embrace the 15.8Mt LCE (lithium carbonate equal) Tonopah Flats deposit1 and the 9.79Mt LCE TLC Lithium Project2 (Determine 4).
The Firm accomplished the primary gap at Altair in Q3 2023, with drill-hole AL01 efficiently intersecting two zones of lithium mineralisation:
- 33.5m @ 481ppm Li from 80.8m (265ft); and
- 33.5m @ 508ppm Li from 147.8m (485ft) to Finish-of-Gap (181.4m/595ft).
The Firm re-commenced drilling at Altair in November 2023 with a higher-powered Reverse Circulation (RC) drill rig extra applicable to cope with the difficult drilling circumstances encountered beforehand on the Mission (Determine 1). Two holes had been drilled at Altair for a mixed 312.4m (1,025ft), efficiently intersecting claystone in each holes AL03 and AL024.
Determine 1. Drill rig arrange at web site AL03.
Interpretation
There may be robust similarity between the mushy blue-green nature and lithium grade of the clays intersected in AL01 and AL03, indicating that the clays intersected in AL03 are an extension of the Siebert Formation encountered in gap AL01.
The deepening of the claystone intersected in AL03 is interpreted to doubtlessly be resulting from a paleo- channel the place Siebert Formation clays could have been eroded away and effective gravels deposited in place (see Schematic Part in Determine 2)
Given the variation in depth of intersection, thickness and grade of the claystones between the easternmost gap AL02 and people in AL01 and AL03, it stays unclear if the claystones intersected in AL02 belong to the Siebert Formation and this may solely be resolved with extra drilling.
Primarily based on the drilling to this point, the mineralisation stays open to the west and the north of the challenge, with wonderful potential to increase the extent of lithium-bearing clays. As well as, the mineralisation additionally stays open, to an unknown diploma, between AL03 and AL02 (Determine 3).
Subsequent Steps
The Firm will work to allow extra holes within the west and north of the challenge, and between holes AL03 and AL02. Allowing is predicted to be accomplished in H1 of 2024, permitting additional drilling to happen within the second half of 2024.
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