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Macarthur Minerals Limited (TSX-V: MMS) (the “Company” or “Macarthur Minerals”) is pleased to announce it has identified a number of significant lithium bearing, spodumene and lepidolite mineralised pegmatites at its new Marble Bar Lithium Project Joint Venture in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. David Taplin, President, CEO and Director of Macarthur commented:“Macarthur Minerals is …
| Macarthur Minerals Limited (TSX-V: MMS) (the “Company” or “Macarthur Minerals”) is pleased to announce it has identified a number of significant lithium bearing, spodumene and lepidolite mineralised pegmatites at its new Marble Bar Lithium Project Joint Venture in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. David Taplin, President, CEO and Director of Macarthur commented: “Macarthur Minerals is excited about the extent of pegmatite outcrop discovered at the Marble Bar Lithium Project where lithium mineralisation, including spodumene and lepidolite, was observed in a number of surface rock samples. These new pegmatite discoveries extend the area of known mineralisation to 14 km2 and the total strike length to 9.0 km”. Results of Reconnaissance Sampling Program Following a two-week reconnaissance mapping program, covering the Marble Bar Lithium Project’s tenements E45/4724 and E45/4669 (Figure 2), a number of samples from pegmatitic outcrops displayed significant lithium bearing signatures, as measured by handheld XRF, as well as visual confirmation of spodumene and lepidolite mineralisation. The previously identified pegmatite swarm was extended to the north and south by 6.3 km (Figure 1). Portable XRF results of the potassium-rubidium ratio (K/Rb) showed the pegmatites to be highly fractionated, which is consistent with pegmatites that host lithium bearing minerals. In addition, the reconnaissance program identified a new area covering 1.5 km in length where the K/Rb ratio indicates highly fractionated pegmatites (Figure 1). Further sampling is warranted across this area. Sampling of previously mapped pegmatites confirmed lithium mineralisation with abundant spodumene and lepidolite observed. Measurement by portable XRF showed the pegmatites to be highly fractionated with 24 of 31 rock samples collected displaying K/Rb ratios less than 10 as well as highly anomalous values of indicator elements, rubidium and niobium. A total of 187 rock and 112 soil samples have been dispatched to the laboratory for analysis and results will be reported as they become available. Marble Bar Lithium Project The Marble Bar Lithium Project consists of four granted Exploration Licences (E45/4669, E45/4690, E45/4724 and E45/4746) covering 368 km2 located between 10 and 50 km east of Marble Bar in the East Pilbara region of Western Australia. Marble Bar is located 200 km south east of Port Hedland and approximately 100 km east of the emerging world class Pilgangoora and Wodgina lithium province. The Marble Bar Lithium Project contains the first reported significant spodumene discovery in the East Pilbara outside of the Pilgangoora-Wodgina area. It is the first discovery of spodumene-rich pegmatites within a granitic host rock. This discovery has opened up for exploration, the entire Marble Bar Lithium Project area within the granites of the Mt Edgar batholith and importantly, also within the nearby greenstones. On 2 May 2017, Macarthur Minerals entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly acquire 100% of both the Marble Bar Lithium Project and Pippingarra Lithium Project in Western Australia through a 50/50 joint venture with Southern Hemisphere Mining Limited (ASX:SUH) (“SUH”) from Great Sandy Pty Ltd (‘Great Sandy’), a private Australian company controlled by Denis O’Meara¹. Next Steps for the Stonewall Project Extensive sediment sampling program is now complete and the next step of exploration will be carried out by geophysical methods. A detailed gravity survey may be conducted. Once the results of the sediment sampling survey and potentially, a gravity survey are integrated and analysed, drill sites will be selected for detailed subsurface investigation of the project. At present, the exact depth and composition of the sediments in the basin are unknown. Macarthur Mineral’s geological team expects sediments to be at least approximately 92 meters (300 feet) deep. A stock watering well located approximately 400 meters (a quarter mile) to the south of the claim block was drilled to a depth of approximately 92 meters (300 feet). It is also expected, that potential aquifers similar in composition and thickness to the upper and lower ash aquifers in the nearby Clayton Valley will be encountered at depth. The ash aquifers in the Clayton Valley are thought to have been were deposited by continental scale volcanic eruptions from calderas located 150 kilometers to the West (90 miles) and 790 kilometers North West (475 miles) of the Stonewall Project area. Ash fall from these volcanoes was deposited in the nearby Clayton Valley 52 kilometers to the North West (31 miles) and most likely also in the basins of the Lida Valley, where the Stonewall Project is located. The Stonewall Caldera (located at the prospect), may have also contributed similar ash fall sediments to both Clayton Valley and in particular to the Stonewall Caldera moat feature. The ash aquifers are both a host for and a possible source for lithium brines in the Clayton Valley. ¹ Refer to News Release dated 2 May 2017. |
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Source: mailchi.mp