Jadar Lithium Limited (ASX: JDR) has announced a positive update on soil and rock chip sampling; acquisition and interpretation of regional gravity and magnetic data on its 100%-owned Rekovac Lithium Borate project in Serbia.
The company reported that the assay results from soil and rock sampling program returned elevated Lithium, Boron, and associated elements from the Rekovac project, with soil values showing up to 342 ppm of boron and up to 149 ppm of lithium.
The results suggest that the basin is prospective for deposits related to the emanation of lithium – boron enriched fluids and their precipitation.
Jadar said that the XRD analyses confirmed the presence of dolomite and analcime both indicative of the permissive sedimentary environment.
Meanwhile, the regional gravity and magnetic data provided results indicating basin geometry, structure, and magnetic anomalies that may be prospective for Lithium and Boron mineralization.
Rekovac project
The 75.4 km2 Rekovac Lithium Borate project in the centre of the Republic of Serbia is composed of Miocene sediments which are very similar setting to Jadar Basin, with potential to contain lithium – borates mineralisation.
Historical work has been conducted on the Rekovac project area by various Serbian and Yugoslav state geological agencies.
Programs to determine prospective areas at Rekovac
JDR had commenced a field mapping and soil sampling program at Rekovac to outline areas with anomalous Li and B values and associated elements, and to determine the most prospective area for follow up detail rock chips sampling.
In conjunction with the field activities, the Company also acquired regional gravity and magnetic survey data from a local contractor who re-interpreted the data with the objective to outline underlying basin geometry and define the presence of Calc-Alkaline volcanism that may be the source of mineral-bearing fluids.
Soil, rock chip sampling, XRD analysis points to prospective area
JDR reported that it undertook two soil sampling programs on the Rekovac project and collected a total of 291 samples.
The company said that the assays returned with elevated Lithium and Boron values with up to 342 ppm of boron and up to 149 ppm of lithium. The elevated values highlighted a prospective area in the central and the southern part of the project area.
JDR then conducted follow up detail rock chip sampling with a focus on the identified anomalies.
The company collected 26 rock samples which were dispatched for geochemical analyses. The analysis returned with elevated Lithium and Boron values with up to 280 ppm of boron and up to 100 ppm of lithium.
The assay data also showed elevated Mg levels, suggesting the dolomitic nature of the sediments.
Meanwhile, the XRD analyses of selected samples indicated the presence of two evaporate minerals; Dolomite and Analcime, both of which are considered to be indicators of a saline-alkaline environment.
The company noted that all these are indicators for the prospective nature of the basin.
Gravity survey, regional magnetic survey
The Company acquired regional gravity survey data from the local contractor Vecom GEO doo.
The gravity survey indicated that the sedimentation within the Rekovac basin is composed of extensive lacustrine sediments.
The company said that as the basement contains a well-defined gravity closure from at least – 1.0 to – 13.0 mGal, it suggests an early period of lacustrine sedimentary deposition when the basin was isolated from drainage.
The company said that the historical ground magnetic survey data indicated magnetic anomalies with 10 nT contour interval. The company said that the elevated values in the southern part of the license indicate a possible “blind” volcanic, prospective for Lithium and Boron mineralization.
What’s next?
The company said that due to the rapid advance of the multidisciplinary exploration program currently underway, it is anticipating the exploration drilling program to be initiated in 2H 2019.
Jadar said that it continues to evaluate the Vranje South basin with the objective of defining drilling locations to test the anomalies generated to date.
The Vardar Zone stretches from northern Iran to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it appears to disappear at the edge of the Alpine formations; and hosts pelitic sediments accumulated in several semi-interconnected basins along a geological trend.
Management statements
Jadar’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board Luke Martino said: “We are very encouraged by the prospectivity of Jadar Lithium’s portfolio of projects in Serbia.
The greenfield exploration work which the Company undertook is paying off, with very encouraging data on the Rekovac project as well.
In conjunction with the exciting results which have been generated on the Vranje-South project, the Rekovac project presents a second area which the Company will be progressing to drilling stage in the near term.
With the brownfield exploration work on the Company’s Weinbene project advancing, as well as, Rekovac and Vranje-South, both of which present the opportunity for a tier one discovery, Jadar Lithium presents a very compelling growth story.”
