Koba Resources (ASX:KOB) reports it has begun initial exploration searching for pegmatites at the Whitlock Lithium Project, located in Manitoba, Canada.
The company says 4 geologists are onsite at the project conducting an initial reconnaissance and sampling program, evaluating the network of mapped pegmatites within the Whitlock Project.
It reports the team has already visited and sampled many pegmatite outcrops and will continue investigating areas of key initial interest, covering as much ground as possible and visiting as many outcropping pegmatites as possible during the 10 day initial program.
All samples collected will be submitted for analysis using a multi-element analytical suite specifically developed for lithium exploration in ‘highly’ fractionated pegmatites, and Koba says the results will confirm any potential lithium grades and provide important information on lithium pathfinder elements.
The company also notes these pathfinder elements will assist in the understanding of the pegmatites at Whitlock, and aid in locating lithium bearing pegmatites.
Koba Managing Director and CEO Ben Vallerine said “We are excited to commence our initial work program at the Whitlock Lithium Project. With the world-class Tanco Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum pegmatite mine on our doorstep and an extensive network of outcropping pegmatites within our project, the company is looking forward to what the program could reveal.”
“With the world-class Tanco Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum pegmatite mine on our doorstep and an extensive network of outcropping pegmatites within our project, the company is looking forward to what the program could reveal”
The company says the project is located within the Bird River Greenstone Belt which hosts multiple lithium deposits including the Tanco Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum Mine with resource reserves include 7.3 million tonnes @ 2.76% Li2O, 2.1 million tonnes @ 0.22% Ta2O5 and 350,000 tonnes @ 23.3% Cs2O1, which Koba notes as the world’s largest producer of caesium in the world with the largest tantalum reserves in Canada.
Also nearby is the Separation Rapids Lithium Deposit with a resource of 10.2 million tonnes @ 1.40% Li2O, the Donner Lake Lithium Deposit comprising 4 spodumene pegmatites containing a resource of 3.6 million tonnes @ 1.28% Li2O, and the historic Irgon Lithium Mine where ore reserves were estimated to total 1.1 million tonnes @ 1.51% Li2O.
Koba reports on the completion of the initial field program, all rock chip samples will be submitted for analysis with resulted expected in January, and future work programs at Whitlock will include assessing field reports of the current program and review of analytical results, acquisition and detailed review of high-quality aerial imagery, detailed review of all existing data and re-processing of an available geophysical data.
The company will also conduct a ‘detailed’ field mapping and geochemical sampling program including the investigation of known pegmatites to generate drill targets for testing, as well as drill testing delineated targets.
Koba Resources is an Australian resource company exploring a portfolio of ‘high-grade’ cobalt and lithium projects in the United States to support the electric vehicle revolution and the path to net zero emissions.
Its projects include the Whitlock Project in Canada, as well as the Colson, Elkhorn, Panther, Goodsprings and Blackpine projects in the United States.
Images: Koba Resources Ltd
