Zenith Minerals (ASX:ZNC) has uncovered a ‘major’ new lithium target following auger soil geochemical sampling activities at its Split Rocks Project in Western Australia.
The results, generated from a total of 8,551 geochemical samples, demonstrate that the new ‘major’ lithium target, which has been named ‘Cielo’ is 9km long by 2km wide, and have returned a peak auger soil value of 117 parts per million (ppm) lithium (Li).
The company says these samples also indicate that this new major geochemical anomaly exceeds the size of the geochemical anomaly that surrounds the Rio lithium pegmatite, which has returned drill results including 26m @ 1.2% Li2O.
“We are delighted to announce a major new lithium target at Split Rocks which has come about through 12 months of hard work from our soil geochemical teams”
Adding on, Zenith Minerals reports the ‘Cielo’ target represents a new target to be drill tested.
Samples were collected across the Split Rocks project area and comprised both auger and soil samples. To date assays have been received for 6,076 samples with a further 2,475 samples awaiting assays.
Speaking on the discovery of the new lithium target, Zenith Minerals Executive Chairman David Ledger said: “We are delighted to announce a major new lithium target at Split Rocks which has come about through 12 months of hard work from our soil geochemical teams. I look forward to providing further updates on this exciting new drill target – Cielo and the additional new lithium anomalies (1 & 2) generated in 2022.”
The company also notes drilling, as part of an ongoing exploration program being conducted to scope the size of the host pegmatite and the contained lithium mineralisation at Rio, has returned ‘significant’ lithium mineralisation.
It is reported the pegmatite has been outlined over 2400m length and 2400m width, with mineralisation remaining open, and that a lithium mineralised zone has been identified over 2100m by 1000m with an open-ended ‘higher-grade’ lithium zone about 650m in length.
‘Substantial’ infill and extensional drill programs are expected to commence at Rio shortly.
With further assays still yet to be received from the sampling program, Zenith Minerals announces planning is in progress for aircore (AC) drilling to be conducted in order to test the new Cielo lithium target, and that an additional 2 lithium targets (A1 and A2) require further assessment. Reverse circulation (RC) drilling is also planned to be conducted on the A3 anomaly in early 2023.
Zenith Minerals is an ASX-listed mining exploration company focused on supporting the increasing demand for metals critical to the global energy transition. The company’s Split Rocks project is located in the Southern Cross region in the Forrestania greenstone belt situated between Perth and Kalgoorlie, an emerging lithium district that is host to Wesfarmers (ASX:WES)/SQM (NYSE:SQM) joint venture (JV) at Mt Holland, which contains 189 million tonnes (Mt) @ 1.5% Li2O.
The project is currently being systematically explored under the terms of a JV between Zenith and EV Metals Group across its landholdings of about 660km-square. Other assets included in Zenith Minerals’ lithium exploration portfolio include the Waratah Well and Hayes Hill projects in Western Australia.
