Balkan Mining and Minerals Limited (ASX: BMM) has obtained high-grade results from the initial channel sampling programme completed at the Gorge Lithium project located in the Georgia Lake Area, Thunder Bay North Mining District of Ontario, Canada.
The channel sampling program recently completed at the Gorge Lithium Project was designed to test lithium-bearing spodumene mineralisation in a number of pegmatites on the property where previous sampling identified high-grade spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes1.
In total, five channels were taken from Koshman totalling 14.01m (CH-001-22 to CH-005-22) and two from Nelson totalling 7.22m (CH-006-22 to CH-007-22) pegmatite dykes.
Assay results included: 1.8m@3.75%Li2O; 2.1m@1.23%Li2O; and 2.7m @ 0.87% Li20, including 1.5m at 1.30% Li2O.
The most encouraging result from the channel sampling returned 1.8m at 3.75% Li2O from a single Nelson spodumene–bearing pegmatite dyke. The spodumene crystals are randomly oriented in a matrix of variably coarse-grained microcline and albite feldspars. It has been found that the dykes at Nelson pegmatite occurrences plunge to the southeast.
The best result from Koshman channel sampling returned 2.1m of 1.23% Li2O, including 1.1m of 2.2% Li2O. During prospecting the Koshman area, the company identified a new area of evolved surface pegmatite dyke and extended the historically known dykes.
The pegmatites at Koshman have a narrow border zone comprised of fine to medium-grained feldspar-quartz-muscovite rock, succeeded inwards by a narrow, similar wall zone. Inwards from there, the pegmatite is a mixture of feldspar, quartz, spodumene, green muscovite and minor beryl and minor Ta-oxide minerals. The pegmatite contains spodumene throughout this internal zone varying in volume from about 5% to >30% of the pegmatite. The spodumene occurs as coarse-grained large prismatic crystals.
Considering that the pegmatite at both Koshman and Nelson remains open along strike, the company aims to conduct future stripping and channel sampling to identify extensions to define drilling targets.
“The channel sampling assay results received at this early stage of exploration have confirmed the exceptionally strong presence of open lithium mineralization at both the Koshman and Nelson sites,” Managing Director, Ross Cotton, said.
“The next phase of exploration will seek to extend channel sampling along strike which will assist with drill targeting.
“Subject to further assay results, the geological team will aim to define drill ready targets in preparation for testing in H1 2023.”
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