Western Australian resource company Everest Metals (ASX:EMC) has begun a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program to target multiple untested lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite targets at its Mt Edon LCT Project in Western Australia.
The company says the program will comprise 40 drillholes for a total of 1,000m and has been designed to test for the presence of lithium mineralisation within recently identified deep ground penetration radar (DGPR) pegmatite targets.
These pegmatites are described as ‘large’ and ‘irregular’ and are noted to have intruded into the Paynes Find Greenstone Belt, which represents a northeast trending sequence of mafic, ultramafic, and sedimentary rocks, with east-west structures cutting these metasediments.
Everest reports the pegmatites also appear to dip in variable directions and angles that are connected at depth, representing both sill and dyke structures. Additionally, it is reported the pegmatites have a northeast-southwest strike of up to 350m and occur along a 1.2km interval of the LCT pegmatite corridor.
The company also notes drilling will also seek to follow up on previous geological mapping of LCT pegmatite structures completed in early March 2023 over an area about 1.6km by 1.2km in size.
Previous exploration completed at the project has comprised a maiden reconnaissance RC drilling program funded by Everest and completed in October 2022. This maiden drilling returned ‘encouraging’ results, with assays grading 3,670 parts per million (ppm) rubidium, 354ppm caesium, 219ppm tantalum, and 1,220 lithium.
Speaking on the start of drilling, Everest Metals Chief Operating Officer (COO) Simon Phillips says: “EMC continues to systematically work through its exploration program at Mt Edon, which has culminated in the commencement of this 1,000-metre drilling program, designed to test the best targets for lithium mineralisation.
“EMC continues to systematically work through its exploration program at Mt Edon…”
The company commends the efforts of the geological team for its thoroughness through this process, starting with the recognition of signature lithium, caesium, rubidium, and tantalum to the recently finalised deep ground penetration radar (DGPR) geophysical survey, giving all stakeholders the highest possibility of exploration success.”
Everest Metals is an ASX-listed resource company focused on discoveries of gold, silver, base metals, and critical minerals in tier-one jurisdictions. The company currently holds a ‘high quality’ portfolio of precious metal, battery metal, and critical mineral projects within Australia, as well as an experienced management team with a ‘strong’ track record of success, dedicated to mineral discoveries.
Everest’s Mt Edon Project is located in the southern portion of the Paynes Find Greenstone Belt of Western Australia and represents an area known to host swarms of pegmatites and ‘highly prospective’ critical metals.
Images: Everest Metals Corporation Ltd
