Hawkstone Mining Limited (ASX: HWK) has reported further impressive results from its Big Sandy Lithium 37-hole Phase 2 diamond drill program at the Big Sandy lithium clay project in Arizona, USA.
The results include a new peak value of 4,250 ppm Li, translating to nearly 0.91% Lithium Oxide content, with drilling continuing to intersect thick, high-grade Lithium mineralisation at shallow depth.
Some of the best intersections include 44m grading 2,040 ppm lithium from 12m down-hole and 26m grading 2,205ppm lithium from 15m down-hole. Other assay interactions include 21.0m @ 2,203 ppm Li from 10.0m and 22.0m @ 1,668 ppm Li from 7.0m.
The company reported that the drill program is anticipated to enable the estimation of a JORC compliant resource on the Big Sandy project. The Company has now released results from 10 of the planned drill holes in the Northern Mineralised Zone.
The Big Sandy Lithium Project
Hawkstone’s 100% owned Big Sandy Lithium Clay project has a project area of 25.2km2 and is located within the United States Battery Corridor, which includes Tesla Motors’ Gigafactory 1. The project contains an 11km-long lithium horizon with simple geology, lithium mineralisation from surface to a depth of 90m and a current Exploration Target of 242.1Mt – 417.6Mt at 1,000 – >2,000ppm Li.
Drilling is currently ongoing as a part of the Company’s current 2019 exploration program. The Big Sandy Lithium 37-hole drill program has been designed to enable the estimation of a JORC compliant resource.
The company’s Phase 2 program of diamond drilling is currently underway over the Northern Mineralised Zone. Currently, 14 of the planned 37 holes are completed.
Impressive Intersections
The company reported that assay results have now been received from 4 drill-holes, DHQ10, DHQ11, DHQ12 and DHQ13. These holes were designed to test the continuity and lateral extent of mineralisation encountered in the previously announced results from the Phase 2 programme and drill-holes from the Phase 1 drilling program.
Some of the best intersections include:
- 44.0m @ 2,040 ppm Li from 12m to 56.0m;
- 26.0m @ 2,205 ppm Li from 15.0m to 41.0m, 14.0m @ 2,085 ppm Li from 42.0m to 56.0m, 8.0m @ 1,526 ppm Li from 59.0m to 67.0m;
- 21.0m @ 2,203 ppm Li from 10.0m to 31.0m, 13.0m @ 2,395 ppm Li from 36.0m to 49.0m, 13.0m @ 1,756 ppm Li from 51.0m to 64.0m;
- 22.0m @ 1,668 ppm Li from 7.0m to 29.0m; and
- 4.0m @ 1,250 ppm Li from 42.0m to 46.0m.
Future Plans
The company said that geological logging and sampling are underway with assays being sent to the laboratory on a hole-by-hole basis.
The company said that holes DDHQ25 and DHQ26 will be drilled to complete the drill section 3,842,650N after which the drill rig will then move a further 200m north commencing with DHQ33 drilling holes on 100m intervals to the east on section 3,842,850N.
Hawkstone said that in the coming months, it is expecting results from its Phase 2 drilling program to generate a stream of significant newsflow as the Company builds momentum towards the expected compilation of its maiden JORC compliant resource at Big Sandy.
The company had recently appointed a highly respected lithium industry specialist, Dr. David Deak. Hawkstone said that this move demonstrated the potential of sediment-hosted lithium projects and the Company’s commitment to progressing its Big Sandy Project.
Hawkstone’s MD Paul Lloyd said, “The results received to date are very promising as they confirm the extension of the mineralisation over 400 metres to the north with very consistent and predictable geology. The thickness and grade of the drilling results are very favourable compared to other lithium clay projects in the USA. We look forward to assays from drill holes another 200 metres further north.”
