Venari Minerals (ASX:VMS) has moved its exploration plan of operations (EPO) for the Red Mountain Lithium and Strategic Minerals Project in Nevada, US, into public notice. The plan seeks to increase the initial drilling disturbance allowance from five to 35 acres.
The EPO is being assessed under expedited National Environmental Policy Act (US) provisions. Venari says it expects approval by the end of 2026, subject to the public notice process and regulatory requirements.
The initial phase would authorise 124 drill sites across the 35-acre area. The broader EPO covers up to 100 acres in two phases, with the second phase opening areas between the initial drill traverses for further infill work.
Venari says the expanded footprint would provide greater flexibility for resource extension drilling, upgrading resources from the inferred to indicated category, and testing areas within the project’s exploration target.
Executive Chairman Tony Leibowitz says the plan would allow the company to assess multiple targets and advance work more efficiently.
“It provides for a significantly enhanced scope to advance our exploration program, assess multiple targets, and plan our activities more efficiently,” Leibowitz says.
“With the EPO now in its final stages, we are focused on moving quickly toward the commencement and expansion of exploration activities across the enlarged area.”
Drilling advances at Red Mountain
A 12-hole, 3,360m diamond drilling campaign is continuing at Red Mountain. The third hole is approaching completion, while the first two have been sent for core cutting, density measurements, sampling, and laboratory analysis.
As previously reported by Mining.com.au, the campaign is supported by a $6.1 million capital raising. Venari completed a $1.77 million first tranche in August and has also received $1.35 million from a convertible note. A further $2.98 million placement tranche remains subject to shareholder approval.
The program is targeting the ‘higher-grade’ northern portion of Red Mountain’s entirely inferred mineral resource estimate, which contains 500 million tonnes (Mt) @ 1,139 parts per million (ppm) lithium (Li) for 3.03Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
Red Mountain also has a conceptual exploration target of 2.02–2.69 billion tonnes @ 1,000–1,300ppm Li, representing 10.7–18.6Mt of contained LCE.
There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a mineral resource across the target areas, and it remains uncertain whether further work will result in one.
Part of the combined exploration target lies within the Red Mountain Extension claims in a wilderness study area, where ground-disturbing exploration is not currently permitted unless the US Congress approves a proposed land reclassification.
Equivalent sedimentary rocks elsewhere in Nevada host Lithium Americas’ (TSX:LAC) Thacker Pass Project and American Battery Technology’s (NASDAQ:ABAT) Tonopah Flats lithium deposit.
Venari Minerals is an Australian mineral explorer advancing resource definition, metallurgy, and permitting at the Red Mountain Project in Nevada.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Venari Minerals
