Assay results from Askari Matals’ Kestrel Pegmatite Target on EPL 8535 show high-grade mineralisation of up to 3.06% Li2O.
EPL 8535 is part of Askari Metals’ Uis Lithium Project, comprising EPL 7345.
The results are from 32 rock chip samples collected at the Kestrel Pegmatite Target as part of an extensive multi-faceted 2024 field exploration campaign.
Askari Metals chief exploration and project manager Cliff Fitzhenry said the results are highly encouraging and confirm that with widths up to 30m and a strike length of more than 1.4km, Kestrel is a pegmatite of scale.
Fitzhenry also said the Kestrel Pegmatite displays high-grade lithium mineralisation with a total of 10 samples displaying assays of >1% Li2O with the best results being 3.06%, 2.97%, 2.91%, 2.88% and 2.28% Li2O.
“These high-grade rock chip assays combined with visually observed zonation textures as well elemental ratio plots confirm that Kestrel is a highly fractionated, fertile, LCT type pegmatite,” he said.
Fitzhenry added that Kestrel will be a priority target to test during the EPL 8535 Phase 1 trenching campaign, during which the company will also test further targets previously identified on the licence.
“We continue to demonstrate that the Uis Lithium Project can deliver significant pegmatites of size and scale, hosting high-grade mineralisation.
“Our recently completed Phase 1 trenching program at EPL 7345 has shown that this exploration method is highly effective and delivers robust, high-confidence drill targets, which we will test this year.
“Our exploration techniques prove we are on the right track, our team is excelling, and our results continue to show that we are unlocking the true potential of this significant project,” Fitzhenry said.
According to Fitzhenry, the same detailed mapping and rock chip sampling will be carried out on further identified specific pegmatite targets to build a pipeline of targets to be trench tested, with drilling to follow.
Through these detailed exploration campaigns, Fitzhenry said they realised that the previous exploration conducted was sub-optimal, resulting in a number of targets being poorly tested, where the company has returned to these target areas with systematic exploration such as mapping, rock chip sampling and trenching, which is resulting in significant pegmatite targets of size and scale being identified.
The company has successfully used detailed hyperspectral analysis to locate and target “blind” pegmatite bodies.
These pegmatite bodies were not previously targeted by artisanal miners, and detailed trenching of these LCT-type pegmatites has revealed their significant size and scale attributes.
The company plans an in-house hyperspectral remote sensing study and a project-wide stream sediment and soil geochemical sample programme across the Corridor of Interest to delineate further anomalous areas, targeting buried / blind pegmatites.
Askari Metals is also planning detailed mapping and rock chip sampling of promising new targets on EPL 8535 and EPL 7345, fast-tracking of the above assays, and, pending successful results, mobilising an excavator to the site for EPL 8535 Phase 1 and EPL 7345 Phase 2 trenching programmes.
