Melbourne-based exploration company Lightning Minerals (ASX:L1M) has confirmed its inaugural drilling program at the Dundas Project in Western Australia at the start of June 2023.
The company reports up to 12,500m of aircore (AC) and reverse circulation (RC) drilling will be conducted across multiple targets in the Dundas South project area, focusing on previously identified soil anomalies and outcropping pegmatites. The drilling campaign will be conducted by Gyro Australia.
The program is designed to follow-up a combination of recent priority targets identified through the mapping of outcropping pegmatites, geophysical interpretations, and lithium-rubidium soil anomalism identified in the south-eastern corner of the tenement.
Commenting on the upcoming drilling campaign, Lightning Minerals Chief Executive Officer Alex Biggs says: “Since our IPO (initial public offering), all work completed has been leading to this inaugural drilling campaign. Our team has been working with the Ngadju Native Aboriginal Title Corporation (NNTAC) and thank them for their continued assistance throughout this process.
We look forward to starting our drilling with multiple targets to follow-up and welcome Gyro Australia as our drilling partner on this campaign. The company has completed a significant amount of work since its admission to the ASX and now looks forward to a transformational period as it furthers its exploration for lithium and critical minerals.”
“The company has completed a significant amount of work since its admission to the ASX…”
Lightning reports about 10,000m of AC drilling will be undertaken in the southeast quadrant of tenement E63/2001, where reconnaissance soil programs discovered lithium-rubidium soil anomalies for drill testing. Drilling in this area will focus on further delineating the broad anomalism, as well as generating hard rock targets for follow-up RC drilling.
The company says any pegmatite intersections discovered during AC drilling may be immediately followed up by RC and diamond drilling to test deeper fresh rock lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) targets. Geological modelling and delineation of any mineralisation intervals may also be undertaken at that stage.
Meanwhile 2,500m of RC drilling will test the previously mapped outcropping pegmatites at depth to ensure the fresh rock is intercepted. The company says fresh pegmatite is being targeted as the contained lithium content can suffer from the impacts of weathering. As a result, Lighting considers testing these pegmatites below the oxidised zone vital in understanding the LCT potential of the outcropping pegmatites.
Lightning says drilling will also provide lithological and structural information that will be used for geological modelling and future exploration strategies.
Lightning Minerals has tenements across Western Australia. The company’s portfolio includes the Dundas Project, along with the Mt Jewell, Mt Bartle, and Mailman Hill projects.
The Dundas project is located near Norseman and comprises 8 tenements covering an area of 454km-square, and is considered prospective for lithium, critical minerals, gold, and nickel.
Images: Lightning Minerals Ltd & iStock
