Andrada Mining has confirmed additional high-grade lithium mineralisation at its Lithium Ridge Project in Namibia, with the latest drill results returning lithium oxide grades of up to 3.46% and strengthening the company’s view that the project could become one of the country’s more significant emerging lithium developments.
The AIM-listed company announced a third batch of drill results from an additional six diamond drill holes completed at the project, confirming consistent near-surface lithium mineralisation together with associated tin and tantalum values.
Among the strongest results was drill hole LRD027, which intersected 9.05 metres grading 2.28% lithium oxide (Li₂O) from 50.82 metres to 59.87 metres, including a higher-grade interval of 3.97 metres grading 3.46% Li₂O from 51.82 metres to 55.79 metres.
Drill hole LRD024 returned 13.27 metres grading 1.42% Li₂O from 32.06 metres to 45.33 metres, including 6.79 metres grading 1.90% Li₂O.
Another hole, LRD023, intersected 9.64 metres grading 1.24% Li₂O between 50.36 metres and 60 metres, including 5.11 metres grading 1.89% Li₂O.
Additional mineralisation was also confirmed in LRD037, which returned 3.97 metres grading 0.95% Li₂O, including 1.51 metres grading 1.99% Li₂O.
The latest results form part of Andrada’s expanded Stage 1 drilling campaign conducted in partnership with global lithium giant SQM.
The company said the programme has now been completed after being expanded by 18% to 16 525 metres of oriented diamond drilling across 143 holes.
Andrada chief executive officer Anthony Viljoen said the latest drilling continued to demonstrate both the quality and scale potential of the lithium system.
“We continue to receive exciting results from the recently completed drill programme at Lithium Ridge, conducted with our partners SQM,” Viljoen said.
“Intersection grades up to 3.46% Li₂O near-surface demonstrate exceptional quality and scale, reaffirming our shared conviction in the potential of the asset.”
Viljoen said the company had strategically expanded the drilling footprint to accelerate understanding of the geological system and its economic potential.
“Having strategically expanded our drilling footprint to fast-track the definition of the geological system’s true boundary and economic value, these results further endorse our course of action,” he said.
Beyond lithium itself, the company said the project is also demonstrating valuable polymetallic characteristics through associated tin and tantalum mineralisation.
Drill hole LRD029 returned 4.97 metres grading 0.21% tin and 130 ppm tantalum, while additional tin and tantalum values were recorded across multiple holes.
The company said spodumene has been visually identified as the primary lithium-bearing mineral within the pegmatite system.
Andrada believes the presence of associated tin and tantalum could enhance future project economics through potential by-product revenue streams.
Sampling and analytical work were conducted through independent laboratories, including SA Labs Ithuba and UIS Analytical Services.
Lithium and major elements were analysed using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-OES, while tin, tantalum and trace elements were analysed using lithium borate fusion with ICP-MS.
The latest results continue to strengthen Andrada’s broader critical minerals strategy in Namibia as the company evolves from a traditional tin producer into a diversified battery and technology minerals developer.
Lithium Ridge forms part of Andrada’s wider Uis mining district in Namibia, where the company has already been expanding tin concentrate production while simultaneously advancing lithium and tantalum opportunities.
The project’s growing significance also reflects the broader global scramble for lithium supply as electric vehicle demand, battery storage systems and renewable energy infrastructure continue driving long-term demand growth for battery minerals.
Andrada said exploration teams are continuing logging and sampling work to accelerate laboratory submissions and advance geological interpretation.
The company is also continuing resource definition work aimed at establishing the broader scale and continuity of mineralisation across the Lithium Ridge system.
Viljoen said the latest results continue positioning Lithium Ridge as a standout asset within the company’s growing critical minerals portfolio.
“Lithium Ridge is rapidly establishing itself as a standout project within Andrada’s critical minerals portfolio in Namibia,” he said.
