Zenith Minerals (ASX:ZNC) has announced the extension of two of the previously announced three large scale, coherent lithium anomalies at Split Rocks. The surface geochemical anomalies are in addition to the Dulcie pegmatite target located in the eastern portion of Zenith’s Split Rocks tenure where anomalous lithium bearing pegmatites were intersected in a maiden aircore drill program over 950m of strike.
- Large scale lithium geochemical anomalies extended at Zenith’s 100% owned Split Rocks Project in the Forrestania greenstone belt, Western Australia;
- Preparation for drill testing of lithium soil targets is in progress (drill access permits submitted, earth moving contractor booked);
- Sampling for lithium to date covers less than 10% of the Company’s tenement area and further systematic sampling planned to commence early May;
- Surface geochemical anomalies are in addition to the Dulcie pegmatite target located in the eastern portion of Zenith’s Split Rocks tenure where anomalous lithium bearing pegmatites were intersected in a maiden aircore drill program over 950m of strike. RC drilling testing at Dulcie planned (drill access permits submitted, earth moving contractor booked).
Zenith Minerals Limited (“Zenith” or “the Company”) is pleased to advise that two of the previously announced (ASX Release 4th December 2017) three large scale, coherent, lithium anomalies have been extended (Figure 1). Zenith is systematically exploring the Split Rocks project located in Western Australia for both lithium and gold. Large parts of the western portion of the project area are covered by thick, low lying scrub that has restricted past exploration activities.
The surface geochemical anomalies are in addition to the Dulcie pegmatite target located in the eastern portion of Zenith’s Split Rocks tenure where anomalous lithium bearing pegmatites were intersected in a maiden aircore drill program over 950m of strike (ASX Release 12th April 2018). The best lithium result in each hole in this northern area was at drill refusal in saprock at the end of the hole, being the depth beyond which the aircore rig could not penetrate. These anomalous lithium, caesium and rubidium results confirm the presence of prospective pegmatites north along strike of Kidman Resources Limited’s (ASX:KDR) Earl Grey lithium pegmatite deposit and represent a drill target for follow-up testing.
The Split Rocks Project covers a large area (>500sqkm) of the Forrestania greenstone belt, this emerging lithium district is host to the new Earl Grey lithium deposit containing 189Mt @ 1.5% Li2O (KDR ASX Release 19th Mar 2018). Zenith is exploring for this style of lithium rich (spodumene) pegmatite within its large land holding.
As detailed in Zenith’s ASX releases on (14th September 2017 and 4th December 2017) first pass surface samples taken at Split Rocks, to date covering less than 10% of the Company’s tenements defined three large, coherent zones of anomalous lithium, caesium and rubidium surrounding granite bodies in the western exploration licences that may be potential source rocks for lithium bearing pegmatites (Figure 1).
The tenor of these large scale lithium anomalies is comparable with competitor surface results that upon drilling have returned significant bedrock lithium mineralisation in several instances. Field follow-up indicated very little to no outcrop in the areas of the lithium soil anomalies and that drill testing will be required. As two of these large lithium soil anomalies remained open ended in the north and central target areas, additional extension and infill sampling was required to better define them prior to drill testing. This additional extension and infill sampling has now been completed with both anomalies substantially extended.
Geological reconnaissance mapping by Zenith has also identified an extensive zone of outcropping pegmatites in the north west of the Split Rocks project area. Systematic surface geochemical sampling in this target area is planned to commence shortly (Figure 1)
