Alderan Resources (ASX:AL8) has begun a stream sediment sampling program over its Itambacuri Project as part of the recently acquired Minas Gerais lithium tenement package in Brazil.
The samples have been collected at 1km intervals along major drainages and at stream junctions to ensure that the entire project area is covered.
Samples will be analysed at the ALS laboratory in Belo Horizontale, Minas Gerais for a suite of 48 elements, including lithium and key lithium indicators.
This program is expected to be completed in Q1 2024 and once assay results are returned, the work program will focus on narrowing down to prospect areas for drilling.
During Q2 2024, a soil and rock chip sampling program will be carried out, as well as geological mapping over anomalous areas within the Minas Gerais projects.
The company notes if lithium-rich pegmatites are uncovered, it may be possible to fast-track drilling on the project areas.
Alderan Resources Managing Director Scott Caithness says the stream sediment sampling is aimed to uncover lithium anomalies which are expected to extend into Q1 2024 with the company’s Carai, Catuji, and Itapie projects.
“Projects have been prioritised for sampling based on the occurrence of pegmatites and potential lithium indicator minerals identified during the due diligence field visit in October 2024.
At Itambacuri, an 8m wide pegmatite dyke was identified with coarse feldspar and quartz plus tourmaline and red garnets.”
The Minas Gerais projects comprise 24 granted exploration licences covering 472km-square within 7 projects.
These projects are the Curral de Dentro, Minas Novas, Catuji, Carai, Itapie, Itambacuri, and Governador Valadares projects and all lie in the eastern lithium belt of Eastern Brazil.
Alderan Resources is a critical metals and precious metals explorer focused on its portfolio of assets in Brazil and the US.
As of 30 September 2023, the company had $1.529 million cash and cash equivalents at hand, according to its latest quarterly report.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Alderan Resources
