Riversgold (ASX: RGL) has reported lithium grades of up to 3.14% Li2O at surface following a recently-completed rock chip sampling campaign at its Tambourah Lithium Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The company notes that the work has expanded lithium mineralisation within the Ragdoll Prospect into three ‘lithium-rich’, parallel pegmatites across a strike length of 200m-300m, reporting an average grade of 1.81% Li2O.
In addition, 12 rock sample results returned from the Lion Prospect, 200m south of Ragdoll, also demonstrate lithium-bearing pegmatite dykes across an approximate strike length of 250m, averaging 2.24% Li2O and returning an outstanding grade of 3.14% Li2O.
Commenting on the results, Riversgold CEO Julian Ford said: “Grade is king, and the results from our Lion Prospect at Tambourah, with an average grade of 2.24% Li2O and a maximum of 3.14% Li2O, are outstanding.
“We are encouraged by the scale of the Tambourah Project, as the Lion, Ragdoll and a new prospect to the north extend now for over 800 metres along the granite contact”
We are encouraged by the scale of the Tambourah Project, as the Lion, Ragdoll and a new prospect to the north extend now for over 800 metres along the granite contact. Our understanding of the lithium mineralisation is improving with each site visit, and we are encouraged by MRR’s success next door.
We have only just started exploring Tambourah’s potential following notification of granting three weeks ago.
The lithium mineralisation discovered to date represents just a very small part of the overall tenement potential, with the majority of the tenement still to be explored over the coming months. Our focus to date has been around the western granite/greenstone contact and we see great potential for our pegmatites to extend further along approximately 34km of contact – west and east – and to extend well into and under the greenstones.”
Interestingly, these two lithium pegmatite systems extend into MinRex Resources’ (ASX: MRR) Southern Zone Pegmatite, with MinRex’s sample MRR040, grading 1.91% Li2O within 30m from Riversgold tenement border.
The company also notes that it controls approximately 12km of the western side granite/greenstone contact which is reported to be prospective for pegmatites, however, work to date has only covered 2km of this western contact, offering upside potential.
Map of the Tambourah Lithium Project displaying prospects and neighbouring projectsThe 108km² Tambourah Lithium Project has been subject to limited exploration, with Riversgold stating that it holds potential to host a ‘major’ lithium-caesium-tantalum system, similar to neighbouring Pilgangoora and Wodgina deposits.
With rock sampling now complete with assays returned, the company notes that the majority of the tenement is still to be explored over the coming months.
Images: Riversgold Limited
