Pan Asia Metals (ASX:PAM) has uncovered new pegmatite zones ahead of a planned Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at the Bang I Tum Lithium prospect within its Reung Kiet Lithium Project in Thailand.
The new zones lie to the east and potentially west of the main zone area within the prospect.
The company says the discovery has been made following the delivery of first assays from drillhole BTDD007, which was completed as part of an ongoing drilling program designed to define a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the prospect.
Pan Asia notes results are interpreted to be consistent with the exploration target of 8-14 million tonnes (Mt) @ 0.5-0.8% lithium oxide (Li2O), which indicates higher Li2O grades compared to the Reung Kiet MRE.
Pan Asia reports the prospective zone at Bang I Tum is currently defined over a strike length of over 1km and remains open along strike and at depth at many sections. Additionally, it is noted that the lithium mineralisation encountered within recent intercepts is accompanied by tin (Sn) and tantalum (Ta) mineralisation.
Key results from drillhole BTDD007 include 11.65m @ 0.60% Li2O, 0.12 Sn and 89ppm Ta2O5 from 49.5m; 4.20m @ 0.47% Li2O, 0.07 Sn and 83ppm Ta2O5 from 63.8m; and 7.80m @ 0.61% Li2O, 0.09% Sn, and 117ppm Ta2O5 from 165.2m, including 4m @ 0.76% Li2O, 0.11% Sn and 145ppm Ta2O5 from 168m.
Meanwhile, the company notes visual results for holes BTDD008-021 demonstrate ‘significant’ extensions of the pegmatite swarm along strike from previous drilling.
Drilling is currently ongoing, with the aim of defining an MRE for the Bang I Tum prospect later in 2023, and has been designed to test the exploration target estimate at Bang I Tum and adjacent zones.
Speaking on the discovery, Pan Asia Metals Managing Director Paul Lock says: “Initial assays and visual observations at the Bang I Tum Lithium prospect are very pleasing, supporting the exploration target and indicating new extensions to the mineralised zones. Robust lithium assays have been reported in hole BTDD007. Visual observations in most other holes support and improve our initial expectations for the program.
“Visual observations in most other holes support and improve our initial expectations for the program.”
The next batch of assay results is due in June, and we are already drilling holes BTDD022 and 023, meaning we can expect an inaugural Mineral Resource Estimate for Bang I Tum to be reported later this year. Successfully incorporating Bang I Tum into the inventory will boost the scale of our project, making it more attractive as a strategic mineral resource in South East Asia.”
Meanwhile, further mapping, as well as rock-chip and soil sampling, has ‘significantly’ increased the exploration potential at Bang I Tum, with the discovery of a new 800m long and 200m wide zone.
This zone is characterised by numerous lepidolite-rich alpo-pegmatite dykes and veins that are interpreted to be a westerly extension of the dyke swarm and the existing exploration target.
With drilling still ongoing, Pan Asia Metals announces samples for drillholes BTDD008 to 018 are with the laboratory, with assays expected to be reported as they become available beginning in June.
Bang I Tum is an ASX-listed battery metals company with advanced lithium projects in Thailand — the largest vehicle producer in the Southeast Asia region. The company’s Reung Kiet Project is located about 70km northeast of the city of Phuket in the Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand and covers 3 contiguous special prospecting licences (SPL), as well as an exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) over 40km-square.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Pan Asia Metals Ltd
