St George Mining Limited (ASX: SGQ) has revealed further encouraging results from lithium exploration at its Mt Alexander Project in Western Australia’s Goldfields, confirming the lithium prospectivity at the Project.
“Our first-ever lithium targeted drilling at Mt Alexander was designed as an initial programme to test for continuity below surface of the high-grade lithium bearing pegmatite outcrops confirmed by rock chip sampling,” Executive Chairman, John Prineas, said.
“The drill programme has successfully confirmed that these pegmatites continue below surface – in some cases up to 200m below surface. Lithium-bearing minerals have been logged in these pegmatite intersections with assays pending.
“These results continue to indicate the potential for a large lithium bearing pegmatite mineral system at Mt Alexander, the full scope of which is still evolving as we continue work across the Project.
“This is a great start to our lithium drilling campaign at Mt Alexander and we are excited about ramping up drilling and broader exploration activities in 2023 with more than 20,000m of drilling scheduled.
“There has been no previous systematic lithium exploration at Mt Alexander and we are delighted with the results of our work programmes so far, which have quickly provided walk-up drill targets and confirmation of high-grade mineralisation starting from surface.
“With more than 13km of the pegmatite corridor yet to be effectively explored – and ongoing rock chip sampling confirming other areas of additional prospective pegmatites – we believe the exploration upside at Mt Alexander is significant.
“Importantly, the success of the drill programme means we end 2022 with significant momentum that will carry through into the New Year, with plans to resume drilling in as early as February.”
Maiden lithium drilling
St George’s first-ever lithium drilling was focused on testing several lithium-bearing pegmatite outcrops at the Jailbreak Prospect. Drilling has confirmed that the pegmatites extend from surface up to depths of 200m. The pegmatites dip to the north with variable orientation from moderate to steeply dipping.
In total, 23 drill holes – both RC and diamond – were completed to target pegmatites for 2,409m drilled. Of those, 20 drill holes intersected pegmatites.
The successive pegmatites tested appear to be stacked across the 1.7km strike creating a broad zone of mineralisation. Further drilling will be designed to explore the geometry and scale of these pegmatite bodies.
Ongoing work programmes
With more than 13km of the pegmatite corridor and additional licences yet to be effectively explored, the company will start the New Year with an aggressive work programme.
The following exploration activities are current and/or planned for 2023:
1. Assays for soil surveys at E29/962 are pending. These have potential to identify a lithium
signature in an area where pegmatites are not exposed due to thin cover.
2. Assays for completed rock chip sampling of pegmatites in other parts of the pegmatite field are pending with more than 92 samples submitted for assay.
3. Assays are pending for all the recently completed RC and diamond drilling.
4. Field mapping and rock chip sampling will resume in January 2023 with more than 13km of the pegmatite corridor to explore. Lithium-bearing pegmatite outcrop has been visually identified in these areas and a systematic sampling programme is required to further assess prospectivity and potential drill targets. These areas include the recently acquired P29/2680 and E29/1143 (both 100% St George)
5. Major lithium drill programme to commence in drilling scheduled for H1 2023 with potential to escalate.
For further information please visit: https://stgm.com.au/
