AVZ Minerals Limited (ASX: AVZ) has received further strong results from its Mineral Resource drilling at the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
It has now received assay results from the third consignment of four diamond drill holes at the Roche Dure North-East Extension drilling programme.
Highlights
- Results from the third consignment of four drillholes out of 45 originally planned resource drill holes at the Roche Dure North-East Extension, confirms further widespread, high-grade spodumene lithium mineralization including 113.33m @ 1.79% Li2O abd 860ppm Sn which includes a higher grade zone of 36.0m @ 2.06% Li2O & 887ppm Sn
- Fifty-four samples returned values greater than two per cent including five individual samples grading greater than three per cent Li2O with the highest value being from hole MO22DD009 from 56.0 to 58.0 metres downhole grading 4.39% Li2O
- Drilling results from Section 8,400mN provide further evidence of the Roche Dure orebody dipping at significantly shallower angles than from the current orebody model
- The original drilling programme design was for 45 drillholes but this was expanded to 54 as a result of a significant change in the geometry of the orebody with deeper drillholes no longer being required
- Two diamond drillholes still to be finished to complete the Roche Dure Extension drilling programme
Despite recent holdups at the assaying facility in Perth due to unprecedented demand for lithium analyses, our third lot of foiur holes drilled at Roche Dure, continue to demonstrate solid grade continuity both along strike and down dip from the current open pit design. Drillhole MO22DD010 however demonstrates late stage metasomatic alteration of the pegmatite which is found in some places,” Managing Director, Nigel Ferguson, said.
“48 holes have now been completed with 33 holes sampled and dispatched to the laboratory in Perth. Additionally, 8 holes have been geotechnically logged and selected core samples sent for specialist laboratory tests to allow for a new mine design to be created once the updated JORC2012 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate is completed.
“The objectives of this current round of drilling are to shore up future mineable reserves based on a likely upgrade of resource tonnes generated from this current round of drilling. It should be noted that this drilling programme has filled in existing gaps in the current geological model caused by previous access issues in wet areas and that the drilling will extend our knowledge of the Roche Dure orebody for a further 600m of strike length up to section line 8,400m north.
“An increasing understanding of the shape of the orebody has allowed us to reinterpret the location of the upper pegmatite contact as well as tracking some higher-grade zones within the orebody. Roche Dure remains open both along strike and down dip.”
