Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) has completed a maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its 80% owned Nevada Lithium Project in Nevada in the US.
The company says the phase one stratigraphic drilling program began at the project’s San Antonne East and Western Flats prospects in late January and comprised 15 drillholes for 2,900m designed to target lithium claystone lithologies.
Auroch notes drilling intercepted claystone lithologies in 10 out of the 15 drillholes, and are believed to be potentially analogues to American Lithium’s (TSXV:LI) TLC deposit and American Battery Technology’s (OTCQB:ABM) Tonopah Flats deposits.
American Battery Technology’s deposits currently hold a S-K 1300 compliant inferred resource of 5.289 billion tonnes @ 561 parts per million (ppm) lithium (Li) for 15.8Mt lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
The company states the defined resource highlights the scale of mineralisation within the basin in which Auroch is exploring. All samples from drilling are reported to have been freighted to ALS laboratories in Reno, with assaying of samples currently underway.
Speaking on the completion of drilling, Auroch Minerals Technical Director Robin Cox says: “We are very pleased with the geological results of our maiden drilling program at the NLP. The claystone intercepts are extremely encouraging and we are eager to understand their potential to host lithium mineralisation.
“The claystone intercepts are extremely encouraging and we are eager to understand their potential to host lithium mineralisation”
Our in-country team has done an amazing job managing a safe and efficient drilling program and the company could not be happier with the team we have established in Nevada. While we await the assay results, the NLP team will continue to work preparing the remaining prospects for drill readiness.”
Auroch also notes the drilling was a success in terms of drilling depths completed, with holes ranging in depth between 152-245m vertical. Claystone lithology units intercepted in drillholes range in thickness from 4m to 173m.
In addition, drilling at the Nevada project has been completed following the completion of further drilling at its Kangaroo Hill Lithium Project in Western Australia, as announced by the company in February 2023.
The company reports drilling at Kangaroo Hill was designed to target a 2.37% lithium oxide (Li2O) outcropping pegmatite and strike extension of previously intercepted 6m @ 1.38% Li2O from 198m in hole NPRC084.
With drilling now complete, Auroch Minerals announces all units are currently being geologically characterised and pXRF’d for baseline geochemistry of sediments by its in-country geological team, with assays expected in the next 1-2 months.
The Nevada Lithium project is situated in the Esmerelda and Nye counties of Nevada, US near the historic silver mining town of Tonopah, with Auroch currently owning a 80% interest in all associated tenements. The project comprises the Traction, San Antone, Heller, and Lone Mountain prospects, which are considered prospective for larger sedimentary-hosted lithium deposits.
Auroch Minerals is an ASX-listed exploration company focused on its portfolio of assets in Western Australia, South Australia, and the US. Assets included in the company’s exploration arsenal include the Saints Nickel, Leinster Nickel, and Nepean Nickel projects in Western Australia; as well as the Bonaventura Zinc-Copper, the Torrens East Copper, and Arden Zinc-Copper projects in South Australia.
Images: Auroch Minerals Ltd
