Pan Asia Metals (ASX:PAM) has kicked off fieldwork at the Hilix Lithium prospect within its Tama Atacama Lithium Project in Northern Chile.
The $39.7 million market capitalisation company has already collected 30 surface and trenching samples from the area. Most of these samples represent outcrop of the targeted clay layer or float samples interpreted to be immediately above the clay layer.
These samples will be submitted for analysis in the near term. Meanwhile, Pan Asia has also collected a bulk sample of 9kg that will be used for preliminary metallurgical evaluation. The company says testwork regarding lithium extraction methods and the production of lithium compounds from the lithium-clay mineralisation will be taken on as a priority.
Looking ahead, Pan Asia plans to test the lithium-in-clay target zone via broad reverse circulation (RC) and aircore drilling to about 40m depth. This would require about 15 holes as a first pass.
The company is in discussions with drilling contractors and expects to begin this planned drilling around September 2023. The drilling will aim to generate an inaugural mineral resource later this year.
Commenting on the ongoing and upcoming exploration work in Chile, Pan Asia Metals Managing Director Paul Lock says: “The Hilix lithium prospect is an easy project, located 5 minutes’ drive from the Quillagua village, with Chile’s main north-south transport and power infrastructure adjacent to the project.
The lithium mineralisation is found in a roughly 30m thick layer of soft, friable, porous, typically white, clay-rich sediments which start at or near surface.
“Although yet to be tested, general observations suggest the mineralisation is homogeneous in nature and laterally extensive…”
Although yet to be tested, general observations suggest the mineralisation is homogeneous in nature and laterally extensive and is considered amenable to a wide-spaced drill pattern which will facilitate a relatively cheap and quick pathway to an inaugural mineral resource later this year.
The core target area is about 6km-square, with previous sampling in and near the block returning values of 920 parts per million (ppm) Li and 1,210ppm Li, and previous drilling over 1km-square returning an average thickness in the mineralised zone of 16.6m @ 1,003ppm Li.”
Pan Asia adds that the grades, nature of mineralisation, and geography set the project up to be easy to evaluate and potentially develop.
Pan Asia Metals is an ASX-listed battery minerals company. The company is focused on its lithium assets in Southeast Asia and South America. It is ‘rapidly’ advancing its lithium portfolio through to feasibility and plans to expand its global lithium resource.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Pan Asia Metals
