Aurora Energy Metals (ASX: 1AE) has reported encouraging lithium assay results from an historic 2011 drilling program at its 100%-owned Aurora Energy Metals Project in south-eastern Oregon, USA.
The results, generated from sampling from an additional 15 of its 32-hole 2011 PQ drilling campaign, have intersected ‘significant’ zones of lithium mineralisation, building on previously reported intercepts.
Key grades (cut-off 1,000 ppm Li) include:
- AUD013: 7.3m @ 2,431ppm Li from 50.3m, and 8.2m @ 1,411ppm Li from 63.1m
- AUD014: 2.7m @ 1,753ppm Li from 19.2m
- AUD015: 6.4m @ 2,145ppm Li from 25.6m
- AUD016: 5.5m @ 1,884ppm Li from 30.2m
- AUD018: 6.4m @ 2,009ppm Li from 97.8m
- AUD030: 9.1m @ 2,414ppm Li from 21.9m, and 17.4m @ 1,350ppm Li from 43.0m
Commenting on the results, 1AE Managing Director Greg Cochran said: “We’re glad to have received further confirmation of the lithium potential of our Aurora Energy Metals Project and we’re looking forward to the next phase, where we will be drill-testing areas that are known to have thicker lakebed sediments.
“We’re glad to have received further confirmation of the lithium potential of our Aurora Energy Metals Project”
The plans for that program are essentially complete and permitting for the first phase of drilling are well advanced.”
The company also notes that these assays are comparable to results released by Jindalee Resources (ASX: JRL) from the neighbouring McDermitt Lithium Project, noted as one of the USA’s largest lithium deposits.
In addition, the results indicate that sediments are reported to thicken in every direction beyond the Aurora Uranium Deposit and also bode well for an upcoming lithium exploration program.
Map of the Aurora Energy Metals Project displaying new lithium assays in blue. Image: Aurora Energy Metals LimitedThe Aurora Energy Metals Project is located southeast Oregon, United States and boasts an existing uranium Mineral Resource of 69.3Mt @ 248ppm eU3O8 for 37.9Mlb eU3O8.
The project is within close proximity to two other major lithium projects, as well as Tesla’s Gigafactory near Reno, Nevada.
With assays finalised and returned, the company reports that it will plan future exploration programs to test the graben and thicker sediments to the south-west of the Aurora Uranium Deposit.
