Benz Mining Corp. (ASX: BNZ) has identified ‘high-grade’ lithium mineralisation over a large outcropping area at its Ruby Hill West prospect in Quebec, Canada, with additional ‘high-value’ results for rubidium, caesium, and tantalum.
Standout assay results from the rock chip sampling campaign included:
- 1.9% Li2O, 3160ppm Rb, >500ppm Cs, 274ppm Ta
- 1.6% Li2O, 3470ppm Rb, >500ppm Cs, >500ppm Ta
- 0.8% Li2O, 980ppm Rb, >500ppm Cs, >500ppm Ta
- 0.5% Li2O, 3810ppm Rb, >500ppm Cs, 324ppm Ta
Speaking on the update, Benz Mining CEO Xavier Braud said: “These are excellent results that identify high grade lithium mineralisation over a large outcropping area at Ruby Hill West, with additional high-value rubidium, caesium and tantalum credits. Looking into satellite imagery and airborne magnetics data, we can see that the outcrop is surrounded by a very large prospective area which has been virtually unexplored apart from sporadic helicopter supported field visits. This area has never received a drill hole.
“we can see that the outcrop is surrounded by a very large prospective area which has been virtually unexplored apart from sporadic helicopter supported field visits”
Importantly, the lithium pegmatite at RHW is hosted in the greenstones, near the contact with younger felsic plutonic rocks which are most likely to be the source of the pegmatite fluids. This is a geological setting shared by many lithium pegmatite deposits such as Pilgangoora or Kathleen Valley in Western Australia. At Ruby Hill West, Benz controls over 35 strike kilometres of such a contact – an incredibly large area which presents a significant opportunity for Benz.
I keep repeating myself saying how little exploration the Upper Eastmain greenstone belt has seen – this is essentially virgin ground for discoveries. Right now, we have confirmed one mineralised pegmatite occurrence, however no one has previously looked for these systems and thus, no systematic work has been conducted to chase those pegmatites, until now.”
Aerial view of the Ruby Hill West lithium pegmatite outcropThe results have extended strike length from historical sampling at a spodumene-bearing pegmatite occurrence at Ruby Hill West, which had returned grades including:
- 4.7% Li2O, 1720 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs)
- 2.59% Li2O, 1970ppm Rb, 1030 ppm Ta and 7530 ppm Cs
The company reports that the outcrop identified is over 100m x 40m, open in all directions, and untested by drilling. In addition, the area along strike is considered to be ‘strongly prospective’ for potential repeats of pegmatite dykes, with limited previous exploration.
Moving forward, preparations are underway for drilling at Ruby Hill West with helicopter-supported drilling expected to commence in March or April subject to weather conditions. This will be followed by a prospecting campaign during the summer tasked with exploring the area along the northern contact of the greenstone belt for additional LCT pegmatites.
Images: Benz Mining Corp.
