Jindalee Lithium (ASX:JLL) has received the final state-level permit required to commence phase one drilling at its McDermitt Lithium Project in Oregon, US.
The company’s wholly owned US subsidiary HiTech Minerals secured the permit from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) for exploratory drilling under the Exploration Plan of Operations approved by the US Bureau of Land Management in December 2025.
With all major approvals in place, HiTech has contracted Forged Drilling Corp to begin drilling in September 2026, subject to current high fire risk easing and issue of a fire waiver.
Oregon is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record, with over 2 million acres burned and multiple large fires still active.
Phase one comprises up to 100 drill sites of the 168 approved under the EPO. The program will focus on high-priority infill drilling using reverse circulation and core methods, targeting the central part of the deposit within the mine design outlined in the McDermitt Prefeasibility Study.
The drilling is designed to upgrade resource confidence from indicated and inferred status, provide samples for geotechnical studies and metallurgical testwork, and collect environmental data including hydrogeological information.
Managing Director Ian Rodger says the final permits will provide critical data for the McDermitt Feasibility Study.
“This work will provide critical data for the McDermitt Feasibility Study, including upgrading confidence levels of the mineral resources at McDermitt, providing samples for metallurgical testwork designed to improve processing efficiencies and acquiring the environmental and geotechnical data essential to project planning,” Rodger mentions.
Mobilisation planning is well progressed, with site preparation works expected to commence ahead of drilling. First results from the phase one program are expected in the December 2026 quarter.
McDermitt hosts a mineral resource estimate of 3,000 million tonnes (Mt) at 1,340 parts per million (ppm) lithium for 21.5Mt lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), comprising 1,470Mt indicated @ 1,420ppm lithium and 1,540Mt inferred @ 1,270ppm lithium.
TMcDermitt represents one of the largest lithium resources in the US, with Jindalee holding 100% ownership and unencumbered offtake rights.
Jindalee Lithium is an Australian pure-play lithium company holding 100% ownership of the flagship McDermitt Lithium Project in Oregon and the Clayton North Project in Nevada, US, alongside a 20% joint-venture interest in the Sherlock Project in Western Australia.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Mining.com.au
