Metals Australia (ASX:MLS) is planning follow-up exploration work at its Manindi Lithium Project in Western Australia after confirming spodumene in ‘high-grade’ lithium-bearing drillcore from the area.
The $21.21 million market capitalisation company plans to focus on identifying new spodumene-dominant pegmatite zones through further drilling, along with examining and assaying of previous drillcore.
Further, Metals Australia is now planning to prepare a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Manindi project’s lithium-pegmatites.
Meanwhile, an ongoing metallurgical testwork program has been carried out on a composite sample of drillcore from the Foundation pegmatite discovery at Manindi.
Metals Australia Chairman Mike Scivolo says identifying spodumene at Manindi is an ‘extremely positive’ sign, as it outlines the potential for ‘greater’ proportions of this ‘high-value’ lithium mineral both within the discovered pegmatites and in new zones.
“The company is looking to generate high-value lithium concentrate products from the Manindi pegmatites, which have been drill tested within a 3km corridor in the northern part of the Manindi Project.”
“The company is looking to generate high-value lithium concentrate products from the Manindi pegmatites, which have been drill tested within a 3km corridor in the northern part of the Manindi Project”
Metals Australia reports initial testwork on the Foundation pegmatite drillcore produced concentrate grades of up to 2.84% Li2O, which included predominantly lepidolite.
Mineralogical analysis of the tails, which contained most of the lithium, suggests the sample contains petalite and spodumene. Further testwork is currently in progress to recover the remaining petalite and the spodumene into a separate, high-value, concentrate product.
Subject to metallurgical results, Metals Australia will continue discussing with potential offtakers for the lepidolite concentrate, as well as ‘higher-grade’ petalite and/or spodumene concentrate.
The Manindi project sits 20km southwest of Youanmi in the Murchison District of Western Australia.
Metals Australia is an active explorer and mining developer focused on its ‘high-quality’ portfolio of battery minerals and metals projects in Australia and Canada.
As of 30 September 2023, the company had $15.575 million cash and cash equivalents at hand, according to its latest quarterly report.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Metals Australia
