Alchemy Resources Limited (ASX: ALY) has commenced a drilling program at the Karonie Lithium targets, located 110km east of Kalgoorlie in WA.
The drill targets are located approximately 8km to the south of Global Lithium Resources (ASX: GL1) Manna Project.
The drilling will consist of 16 reverse circulation (RC) holes for ~1,900m. Drilling will target pegmatite targets over the 7km of strike length of the extensive system of interpreted pegmatites and high tenor targets which have been identified by field mapping, high resolution gravity and soil sampling. Depth of these holes will be up to 132m downhole, with spacings of 80m to provide adequate crossover to establish dyke orientation.
“Today’s announcement that drilling has commenced on the Karonie Lithium targets is an exciting development for the company and the geology team. After the discovery of further lithium caesium tantalum (“LCT”) pegmatite mineralisation at surface at Mesquite and completion of our geochemical review we are excited to get the drill rig back on the ground to test these high priority targets at the Cherry, Mesquite and Pecan prospects,” Chief Executive Officer, James Wilson, said.
Karonie Drill Programme
The Karonie lithium focussed drill programme includes 16 RC drillholes for a total of up to 1,900m over the Cherry, Mesquite and Pecan prospects. Holes are designed to target large gravity lows and interpreted pegmatite structures.
Detailed mapping has recently identified multiple pegmatite outcrops at Mesquite which contain coarse lithium minerals including lepidolite and petalite. Six rock chip samples were taken from various locations around the high priority target areas. A number of previously unmapped pegmatite bodies were discovered and found to contain coarse lepidolite and traces of spodumene.
Importantly the lepidolite/spodumene occurrences are located at the southern end of the high priority gravity target area. The pegmatites trend to the north and south for up to 1,200m towards Pecan, with the majority of the area under thin alluvial cover. Previous RC drilling completed in July 20233 did not intercept mineralisation in hole PNRC016, which suggests that the holes did not effectively test the mineralisation now seen in outcrop due to their orientation. The majority of the area has thin alluvial cover and as such, outcrop is very limited.
Alchemy conducted multiple programmes of regional multi-element soil sampling in 2022 generating numerous lithium targets, and as part of a strategic review of targets, the data was reviewed by an external lithium focussed consultant. The outcomes of the report proposed that geochemical highs associated with pegmatites at the Cherry, Hickory, Mesquite and Pecan prospects remain largely untested given the presence of LCT pegmatites that contain spodumene and lepidolite in rock chip data1.
Next Steps
- Complete RC drilling at the Cherry, Hickory, Mesquite and Pecan prospects.
- Lake Rebecca soil samples have been submitted to the laboratory with assays pending
- Plan follow-up drill programmes.
