St George Mining Limited’s (ASX: SGQ) first assays of visibly mineralised pegmatite rock chip samples from its Mt Alexander Project in Western Australia have confirmed high-grade lithium and provided further validation of the potential that the Project hosts significant lithium mineralisation.
“We are delighted that our visual interpretation of lithium-bearing pegmatites has been confirmed as accurate by the first batch of laboratory assays,” John Prineas, St George Mining’s Executive Chairman,said.
“The high-grade lithium assays are from pegmatite outcrops spread over a 1.7km zone at Jailbreak within a 15km long interpreted lithium, caesium and tantalum (LCT) corridor where numerous pegmatites at Mt Alexander have been mapped to date.
“The grades and scale we are seeing appears to confirm that we are exploring a highly prospective pegmatite hosted lithium mineral system in its early stage of evaluation.
“Our lithium bearing pegmatites are located in the same corridor parallel to the Copperfield Granite where Red Dirt Metals (ASX: RDT) has announced significant lithium discoveries and flagged a pending maiden mineral resource.
“Zenith Minerals (ASX: ZNC) has also announced on 11 October 2022 the commencement of drilling of prospective pegmatites at its Mt Ida North Lithium Project, north-east of our lithium-bearing pegmatites.
“Further north of Mt Alexander, and also adjacent to the craton scale Mt Ida fault, is Liontown’s (ASX: LTR) large Kathleen Valley lithium deposit which has a mineral resource of 156Mt @ 1.4% Li2O and 130ppm Ta2O5.
“We are in a very good address and look forward to commencing our maiden lithium drill programme later this quarter.
“The fast-emerging lithium potential at Mt Alexander perfectly complements our continued search for more high-grade nickel-copper-PGE sulphide discoveries, which will also involve a drill campaign this quarter.”
Expanding horizon of lithium-bearing pegmatites
Pegmatite samples at the Jailbreak Lithium Prospect that were confirmed by assays to be hosting high-grade lithium mineralisation.
Similar visual lithium-bearing samples have now been collected from an area that extends up to 1.7km north-south and 1.4km west, with assays awaited from these samples.
Also of significance is a high rubidium value (0.6% Rb) from a rock chip sample taken from sub- cropping pegmatites near the eastern boundary of E29/962. Rubidium is often an indicator element for lithium mineralisation in weathered terrains like those at Mt Alexander.
The high rubidium value is >2km east along strike from the pegmatite outcrops which host the high- grade lithium assays reported for samples MARK152-2 and MARK152-3.
Next steps
Assays from more rock chip samples and soil samples are expected to be received over the coming weeks. These results will allow St George to finalise a reverse circulation drill programme to test the outcropping pegmatites at depth – to confirm their orientation and the extent of any high-grade lithium mineralisation continuing below surface.
Earthworks for the upcoming maiden lithium drill programme are scheduled to commence in late October 2022. The start of drilling is scheduled for late October/early November.
The width and extent of the area of outcropping pegmatites at Jailbreak suggests the potential for a lithium mineral system that could host significant mineralisation.
The Jailbreak area forms part of the 15km long LCT pegmatite corridor interpreted within the Company’s tenements. Numerous stacked pegmatite dykes have been identified along this corridor. Many pegmatites have now been mapped and sampled with assays pending.
For further information please visit: https://stgm.com.au/
