TG Metals (ASX:TG6) has sent lithium core samples to potential offtake and financing partners after infill drilling at the Burmeister deposit returned grades exceeding direct shipping ore (DSO) specifications.
The company completed five diamond drill holes totalling 759.9m at Burmeister, which forms part of the Lake Johnston Lithium Project in Western Australia.
Key results include 12.35m @ 1.53% lithium oxide (Li₂O) from 197.25m, plus 1.95m @ 2.37% Li₂O from 157.7m; 5m @ 1.24% Li₂O; and 5m @ 1.04% Li₂O.
TG Metals composited pegmatite intercepts into six samples, all of which exceeded the nominal 1.2% Li₂O DSO criterion without ore sorting. The company says the results demonstrate the potential to produce a ‘high-grade’ spodumene product.
Drilling targeted the maiden inferred mineral resource estimate of 6.71 million tonnes @ 1.18% Li₂O, reported on 18 August. Holes also intersected pegmatite down dip of the pit shell, which TG Metals says supports further infill drilling to expand the resource.
CEO David Selfe says this latest round of drilling confirms Burmeister’s position as “one of Australia’s premier hard-rock lithium deposits, reinforcing the opportunity for a low-capital-intensity, open-pit DSO operation”.
“We continue to see strong interest from offtake customers and strategic development partners, with commercial discussions progressing alongside our technical work to unlock the deposit’s economic potential,” Selfe says.
“With infill drilling progressing, Burmeister is moving efficiently into feasibility studies and permitting.”
The Lake Johnston Project is located about 240km northwest of the port of Esperance, providing potential access to existing export infrastructure. A key asset within Lake Johnston, Burmeister is the largest known open-pit DSO lithium (spodumene) deposit in Australia.
TG Metals says DSO studies are progressing alongside permitting, with a mining lease application progressing and a water exploration licence now granted.
TG Metals is focused on developing gold and lithium assets at its wholly owned Lake Johnston Project and 80%-owned Van Uden Gold Project.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: TG Metals
