Auroch Minerals (ASX: AOU) has encountered lithium mineralisation following re-assaying of pegmatite intersections from RC drilling at its Nepean Nickel Project in Western Australia.
The results, generated from drilling in the northern area of the project, included a key result of 1m @ 0.88% Li2O from 78m incl. 4m @ 0.35% Li2O from 78m.
The company added that these results follow on from previous field investigations where rock chip sampling had returned anomalous lithium and caesium results of up to 2.26% Li2O and 0.14% Cs from the same area.
Addressing the results, Auroch Minerals Managing Director Aidan Platel said: “We are encouraged by these assays results from the pegmatite intersections in the four drill-holes in the northern area of the Nepean tenure. The drill results follow on from impressive first-pass results from the field rock-chip samples taken last year and not only do they confirm the presence of LCT-enriched pegmatites throughout this northern area, but also show the potential for these pegmatites to host lithium mineralisation.
“This growing potential for the significant lithium mineralisation compliments the Company’s primary focus on its high-grade nickel sulphide projects in Western Australia”
This growing potential for the significant lithium mineralisation compliments the Company’s primary focus on its high-grade nickel sulphide projects in Western Australia, as the Company looks to leverage the ever-increasing demand for critical minerals for the renewable energy sector.
The technical team is currently planning follow-up exploration, including drill programmes, to delineate further LCT mineralisation in the area. Parallel to this, the team is also preparing for a diamond drill programme at the Leinster Nickel Project to test high-potential nickel sulphide targets at the Woodwind and Brass Prospects.”
The company believes that these recently-received results confirm the existence of LCT-enriched pegmatites within the northern area and host potential for economic lithium mineralisation to extend into this tenure.
The Nepean Nickel Project is located 60km south-west of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and covers a total land area of 31km2, with Auroch holding an 80% participating interest along with 20% partner Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR).
The Project contains the Nepean nickel sulphide mine which accounted for historical production between 1970 and 1987 of 1,108,457 tonnes of ore for 32,202 tonnes of nickel metal, with an average recovery grade of 2.99% Ni.
Moving forward, Auroch will proceed with metallurgical test work on shallow near-mine nickel sulphide potential while they await approval for an RC drilling campaign to test ground IP anomalies.
