Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) reports it has launched a maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its 80% owned Nevada Lithium Project in the US.
The company says the 3,000m drill program will be testing the Siebert Formation, which comprises tertiary aged sediments from or near surface. Within the Siebert Formation, Auroch is exploring for the presence of claystone lithologies elevated in lithium (Li). This formation is known to host American Lithium’s (CVE:LI) nearby TLC Deposit, and is therefore considered by Auroch to be ‘extremely’ prospective.
Intercepts over 300 parts per million (ppm) will be considered anomalous and indicative of lithium bearing claystone. Auroch reports Alford Drilling has been contracted to complete the maiden program with the company’s in-country team supervising the work.
Commenting on the drilling program, Auroch Minerals Technical Director Robin Cox says: “Today marks a very important milestone for Auroch and the NLP (Nevada Lithium Project). Since the acquisition of the NLP in June 2022, the company has accelerated its technical evaluation of the landholding to reach this point of defining several high priority drill targets and the commencement of the maiden drilling program.
We are extremely happy to report that Alford’s RC rig is on the ground and rods are spinning. The company is very excited about what this program may discover as we explore an area which is well known for hosting lithium claystones.”
“The company is very excited about what this program may discover as we explore an area which is well known for hosting lithium claystones”
During this initial drill program, Auroch will drill test the San Antone East and Western Flats prospects. Further work is then planned to get the Traction, Lone Mountain, and Heller prospects drill ready in the coming months.
Given the first-pass nature of this program, the company says holes have been planned on wide scale spacing to aid Auroch’s understanding of the prospect stratigraphy. This will allow for more targeted drilling in the following phases of exploration at Nevada. Auroch notes these holes will be drilled between 150m and 200m in depth, and will take about 5 weeks to complete. All samples will be submitted to ALS laboratory services in Reno, Nevada.
The Nevada Lithium project is located in the Esmerelda and Nye counties of Nevada, US. The project is located near the historic silver mining town of Tonopah which hosts American Lithium’s TLC deposit of 4.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) measure resources. Another nearby project is Ioneer’s (ASX:INR) Rhyolite Ridge deposit, which contains 1.25 million tonnes of contained LCE, and 11.9 million tonnes of dihydrogen borate (H2BO3).
Auroch Minerals is an Australian exploration company focused on its portfolio of assets in Western Australia, South Australia, and the US. These projects 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