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Charger Metals NL (ASX: CHR, ‘Charger’ or ‘the Company’) reports that it has received the majority of the outstanding assay results from the drilling completed at the Bynoe Lithium Project, Northern Territory, adjacent to the Finniss Lithium Mine owned by Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO).
- Assay results have been received for 63 holes drilled across seven prospects at the Bynoe Lithium Project in NT
- Results confirm lithium (Li) and tantalum (Ta) mineralisation in pegmatites at three of the prospects; results for a further 6 holes pending
- Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) and ground gravity surveys have been completed over a large area in the northeast of the Bynoe Project
- The data from geophysical surveys are being processed and modelled with the aim of detecting any potentially large “blind” pegmatite systems that do not outcrop
- Additional infill surface geochemical sampling and mapping programmes have also been completed in the northeast
- Preparation underway for field programmes at the Lake Johnston Lithium Project, including drilling programmes at the Medcalf Spodumene Prospect and Mt Day Lithium Prospect
Assays have been received for 3 diamond drill-holes and 60 reverse circulation (“RC”) drill-holes from seven prospective target areas at Bynoe, with the results confirming lithium and tantalum mineralisation at three of the prospects: Enterprise, Utopia and 7Up (Figures 2 – 4).
Figure 1. Location map of the Bynoe Lithium Project and Finniss Lithium Project and the areas covered by the current ANT, ground gravity and surface geochemistry surveys.
However, the fractionation within the lithium- caesium-tantalum (“LCT”) pegmatites is not homogeneous, with the spodumene content of the pegmatite intersections inconsistent and low-grade.
Significant intersections to-date include:1
- 7m @ 0.96% Li2O from 107m, including
- 5m @ 1.13% Li2O from 108m (CBYRC023);
- 16m @ 0.65% Li2O from 185m, including
- 1m @ 1.91% Li2O from 198m (CBYRC024);2
- 12m @ 0.49% Li2O from 267m, including
- 4m @ 0.84% Li2O from 275m (CBYD003);
- 5m @ 0.73% Li2O from 104m, including
- 1m @ 1.05% Li2O from 108m (CBYRC042); and
- 6m @ 0.50% Li2O from 53m (CBYRC051).
Assay results for a further 6 holes remain outstanding and are expected over the next four weeks.
The Company has now completed an ANT geophysical survey in the northeastern portion of the Bynoe tenure (Figures 1 & 2). ANT is a form of passive seismic surveying that uses ambient sound waves to detect contrasting rock units, and has been used to successfully detect “blind” pegmatite systems that cannot be seen at surface. This is a particularly useful exploration tool at Bynoe to “see” below the strong weathering profile at surface to potentially detect large pegmatite systems that do not outcrop.
The Company has also completed a ground gravity survey over the northeastern portion of the Bynoe Project (Figures 1 & 2). Petrophysical testwork completed on drill core from the Company’s diamond drilling has shown a significant density contrast between the pegmatites and the metasedimentary country rock. As such, ground gravity has the potential to detect significant pegmatite systems at Bynoe, particularly when modelled in conjunction with the ANT survey results. Processing of the ANT and gravity data is underway with modelling and target generation expected to be finalised in October.
Concurrent to the geophysical surveys Charger has finalised infill surface geochemical surveys over key prospective areas at Bynoe (Figures 1 & 2). Areas of no previous sampling or wide-spaced (400m) sampling were infilled to 200m line spacing. Assays are pending with results expected in late October.
Charger’s Managing Director, Aidan Platel, commented:
“We are encouraged by the recent assay results, which confirm our observations of spodumene within pegmatites at three of the seven prospects we have drilled to-date at Bynoe. Whilst the lithium results have been low-grade, where there is smoke there is fire, and we remain confident of intersecting economic lithium mineralisation given the numerous (>20) prospect areas identified within the large tenement area.
Given the “masking” effect at surface from the seasonally wet conditions which leach the lithium from the significant weathering profile, lithium exploration at Bynoe is difficult using the more traditional exploration methods (e.g. rock chip sampling). As such, we have completed concurrent ANT and gravity surveys which have the ability to delineate new high priority drill targets that are not apparent at surface, across prospective yet underexplored areas of the Bynoe Project. We look forward to seeing the modelled results of these surveys in October.
In the meantime, preparations are underway to resume exploration programmes at our Lake Johnston Project, in Western Australia, which will include diamond and RC drill programmes at the Medcalf Spodumene Prospect.”
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This article includes content from Charger Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
CHR:AU
Spodumene Pegmatite Discovery at Esperança Project in Brazil Yields LIBS Results up to 4.04% Li2O
The discovery has been made during early-stage exploration programs which include project scale geological mapping, ground reconnaissance, and soil sampling. These early-stage programs remain ongoing with further results to come over the coming weeks. The discovery supports the Company’s exploration thesis and uplifts the remaining prospectivity across all three project areas: Canabrava, Caraíbas and Esperança projects.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Artisanal excavations reveal a lithium bearing pegmatite with elongate crystalline spodumene crystals up to 50cm in length
- LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) results of spodumene crystals return up to 18,800 ppm Lithium, or 4.04% Li2O
- Discovery provides walk up drill target for fully funded drilling campaign to begin Q1 2025
- Soil sampling and geological mapping continues across the Esperança, Canabrava and Caraíbas projects with further results due over the coming weeks
Lightning Minerals Managing Director Alex Biggs said, “I am highly encouraged by these results from Brazil. As I have spoken about, as a team we are committed to discovery and completing our works in a diligent and structured manner, the proof of which is in these results. The Company is progressing its projects in Brazil quickly and cost effectively and generating significant results for the business which we feel will be transformational. I am proud of and congratulate our geology teams both in Australia and Brazil who have conducted themselves in a professional and astute manner which has been crucial in making a discovery such as this. This is a great first step for us in Brazil and is testament to the prospectivity of the region as I have discussed previously. We look forward to drilling in Q1 2025 and further results to come imminently from all three project areas in Brazil. I would also like to thank our shareholders who have supported our vision and exploration strategy. As a Company we are firmly committed to the lithium thematic and firmly committed to Brazil where we see significant potential moving forwards”.
Lithium Discovery at Esperança Project
During geological mapping fieldwork conducted in mid-November 2024 field geologists encountered a previously unknown historical artisanal mine within the Esperança project area. The site presented with a small access which opened into a set of sub vertical shafts sunk several meters into schists of the Salinas formation. Upon investigation the geology team has discovered pegmatitic lithologies in the walls of the excavations, of which the suite of minerals indicates inclusion of macro crystalline (up to 50cm) elongate crystals of spodumene as shown in Figure 1(a) and Figure 1(b).
Figure 1a (left): Brazilian geologist Vitor Araujo Alves showing the spodumene rich portion of the zoned pegmatite discovered at the Esperança Property. Figure 1b (right): Large elongate spodumene crystals (Spd) up to 50cm in length showing homogeneous growth patterns amongst a quartz (Qtz) and Feldspar (Fdsp) rich matrix
The Company’s geologists have collected selective mineral specimen grab samples in sample VLM207 (Figure 2). Six separate minerals have been analysed via a SciAps Z-903 hand-held LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) device which has returned lithium endowment of up to 18,800 ppm lithium, which equates to a lithium oxide percentage of 4.04% Li2O.
The SciAps Z-903 handheld LIBS device is considered a qualitative analysis technique only and is used as an in-field preliminary check to establish if a mineral is lithium-bearing. Certified laboratory assays are required to provide accurate, quantitative analysis. A table of the six SciAps Z-903 handheld LIBS results testing the spodumene crystals is shown in Table 1. A full table of results are presented in Appendix 2, Table 2.
While the current field observations indicate that the mineral identified is a lithium-bearing mineral, the percentage of lithium produced from the LIBS analyser does not correlate to an accurate quantitative measurement of the lithium concentration of the mineral itself, or to the overall grade of the pegmatite.
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This article includes content from Lightning Minerals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
