Future Battery Minerals (ASX:FBM) has hopped into a phase three reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its Kangaroo Hills Lithium Project in Western Australia, which is shared with JV partner Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR).
The company reports phase three program includes 5,000m of RC infill drilling completed at the Big Red prospect to target further shallow, thick, and ‘high-grade’ lithium pegmatites. The program will also test regional targets including Rocky, Eastern Grey, Wallaroo, and Pademelon before being expanded to test the northern extension of a resistivity anomaly at Big Red once permitting is received.
Future Battery Minerals says the target generative work to date at Rocky and Eastern Grey has confirmed pegmatites. The presence of a lithium-bearing pegmatite at Rocky has been confirmed through the proximal result of 5m @ 1.12% Li2O from 104m in hole KHRC0037.
Given the proximity of these prospects to Big Red, the company says there is a ‘high potential’ for further ‘large-scale’ discoveries to add ‘significantly’ to the lithium inventory at Kangaroo Hills.
As phase three drilling progresses, Future Battery Minerals also notes a metallurgical and mineralogical assessment and target generative geophysics are ongoing at Kangaroo Hills. Additionally, assays from phase two diamond drilling are expected to be returned in the coming weeks.
At the Nevada Lithium Project in the US, the company reports phase three drill planning is underway.
Commenting on the phase three drilling program, Future Battery Minerals Technical Director Robin Cox says: “The phase three program signals an expansive next step in exploration at the KHLP.
“Work to date has successfully discovered shallow high-grade spodumene-bearing pegmatites at Big Red, highlighting the potential of the project”
Work to date has successfully discovered shallow high-grade spodumene-bearing pegmatites at Big Red, highlighting the potential of the project. The RC program will further test the exciting discovery at Big Red and Rocky, while also testing the recently defined high-priority regional targets, all of which could substantially contribute to the success of the KHLP.”
Future Battery Minerals is an ASX-listed battery metals explorer that wields a portfolio of assets in Australia and the US. These assets include the Kangaroo Hills Lithium, Saints, and Leinster nickel projects in Western Australia, along with the Arden, Bonaventura, and Torrens East Copper projects in South Australia.
Kangaroo Hills lies in the Goldfields of Western Australia and is a joint venture (JV) between Future Battery Minerals and Lodestar Minerals, with each company holding an 80% and 20% interest, respectively.
On 15 June 2023, FBM received $2.7 million from the sale of the Nepean Nickel Project in Western Australia. This funding is being used to complete exploration activities at Kangaroo Hills.
Write to Harry Mulholland at Mining.com.au
Images: Future Battery Minerals Ltd
