Essential Metals (ASX:ESS) is paving the way for an updated mineral resource and Scoping Study in the 4Q 2022 quarter for its Pioneer Dome Lithium Project in Western Australia.
The company reports that it has drilled three holes at 120-130m below the Cade Mineral Resource, suggesting that a southerly plunge could be present instead of the previously interpreted northerly plunge.
Thick pegmatite intersections up to 25m in true width have been observed in two holes with a 1m interval of visual spodumene observed in one hole. All pegmatite drill core will be submitted for lithium assays.
Essential notes that the drill program is expected to be completed by mid-August.
Commenting on the results, Essential Metals Managing Director Tim Spencer, said: “We are working hard to determine the optimal project operating scale that the Dome North lithium Resource can support, to allow us to move ahead with more detailed economic studies.
“We are working hard to determine the optimal project operating scale”
Having thick zones of near-surface, high-grade lithium-bearing spodumene greatly enhances the project and provides a strong foundation for feasibility studies, commencing with a Scoping Study in the December quarter.”
The 100%-owned 450km-square Pioneer Dome Project is located in the core of Western Australia’s lithium corridor in the Eastern Goldfields, about 130km south of Kalgoorlie and 275km north of the Port of Esperance.
A mineral resource of 11.2Mt @ 1.21% Li2O has been defined at ‘Dome North’ in the northern area of the project.
The southern Yilgarn area is recognised as being well-endowed with spodumene deposits, including the Bald Hill Mine, the Mt Marion Mine and the Buldania Project, all of which are located within 80km of Pioneer Dome.
The world-class Greenbushes Deposit, the Mt Holland Mine and the Mt Cattlin Mine are located further west, south-west and south-south-west, respectively.
Images: Essential Metals Limited
