Multi-commodity company Bastion Minerals (ASX: BMO) has identified new pegmatites in a significant update on the Morrissey project in Western Australia.
A comprehensive field reconnaissance programme, which included geological mapping and sampling of known occurrences and discovered extensive new pegmatites and targets, resulted in the collection of 211 rock chip samples for analysis.
Assay results are expected within approximately four weeks. Importantly, the field programme discovered Pegmatites which show similar characteristics to other areas of the regional Ti Tree shear zone.
Geological mapping and sampling in the south part of Central pegmatite identified a group of close- spaced pegmatites outcropping along the start of the deflationary gravel plain, immediately west of the massive granite outcrop.
Historical soil sampling by the previous owners showed a number of areas to evaluate in the field for lithium and this recent field mapping and sampling programme has confirmed the presence of extensive pegmatite bodies, which often appear to be sub-horizontal. There appears to be at least two pegmatite phases, one of which has a high spectrometer response and has extensive associated carnotite mineralisation and the other with low scintillometer response, with potential for lithium.
Radiometric surveys identified a generally high radiometric response within the middle of the Central Pegmatite pegmatitic granite outcrop (300-450cps Total count) which suggests potential enrichment of uranium and thorium (the spectrometer does not distinguish between minerals as possible sources of the radiation detected). A notably lower radiometric response (170-220cps Tc) was confirmed in surveys conducted towards the northern end of the massive outcrop, near to where the other pegmatite phase was confirmed, and along the edges (east and west flanks) of the granite outcrop.
“Recent fieldwork has confirmed the area hosts abundant pegmatite outcrop and subcrop and it is exciting to map and sample these to assess their lithium grades,” Executive Chairman, Ross Landles, said.
“We have a total of 211 rock chip samples in two sets, evaluating Lithium, Uranium and REE mineralisation and to evaluate what other elements are elevated within the property.
We are buoyed about these extensive outcropping and subcropping pegmatites, some noted in pegmatite corridors, show similar characteristics of others in the regional Ti Tree shear zone, where economic lithium grades have been confirmed at a number of other lithium projects.
“Of important significance, the field program has identified and interpreted that at least two pegmatite phases exist within the property, one of which has a high scintillometer response and has extensive associated carnotite mineralisation and the other with low scintillometer response, with potential for lithium.
“We have a total of 211 rock chip samples in two sets, evaluating Lithium, Uranium and REE mineralisation, we are very excited with the potential on our property and look forward to providing updates on future activities.”
