Delta Lithium Limited (ASX:DLI) has obtained strong drilling results from the Yinnetharra Lithium Project in Western Australia.
Ongoing drilling at the Yinnetharra Project has continued to demonstrate thick continuous lithium mineralisation from surface. Drilling has been utilising two Reverse Circulation (RC) rigs and one Diamond Drill (DD) rig, testing Malinda pegmatites along strike and down dip.
Wide spaced step out drilling has been used to define the edges of known pegmatites at Malinda. Pegmatites are forming shallow dipping sheets within which thickened zones (up to 70m thick in places) that contain spodumene have a shallow easterly plunge, with emplacement and morphology of the pegmatites controlled by a series of structures and contacts between amphibolite and schist units.
Following the release of the maiden Lithium MRE at Malinda, planned for later this quarter, Delta’s drilling strategy at Yinnetharra will transition towards infill drilling to build confidence in the geological model.
Two rigs will undertake infill drilling on known pegmatites for the coming months in preperation for commencement of mining studies planned at Malinda. One RC rig will test regional anomalies adjacent to Malinda.
Moving forward the M1, M36 and M47 pegmatites will be the main immediate focus of the infill drilling at Malinda.
Soil sampling and mapping at Yinnetharra has been ongoing for some time with the ultimate objective of evolving our understanding of all Delta tenures in order to keep a constant flow of new lithium prospects in the pipeline. Soil sampling so far has defined good coherent lithium anomalies at Jamesons, Calypso East and Malinda South. These targets will be drilled once heritage clearances are received for these specific areas.
This a very exciting time for Delta with, continued exploration success steadily building confidence in both lithium projects at Mt Ida and Yinnetharra. The exploration team has been tireless in their pursuit of the emerging discovery at Yinnetharra which continues to show massive potential. Equally, the growing confidence in the Mt Ida ore body is steadily improving and we have now identified a new prospect in Long John to the east of the Sister Sam pegmatite,” Managing Director, James Croser, said.
“The shallow nature of some of the recent drill results at Yinnetharra is compelling, as they provide for an early potential source of ore from surface upon commencement of mining.
Our ongoing investment in exploration will deliver confidence in the studies and forward planning activities that flow from this solid geological understanding. This is a critical risk mitigation strategy as we seek to rapidly develop our lithium assets.”
At Mt Ida, a new lithium prospect named ‘Long John’ has been identified east of Sister Sam with mapping and scout drilling demonstrating LCT pegmatites over a strike of 500m with visible lithium minerals in surface sampling up to a grade of 0.2% Li2O.
The results seen so far are similar to early shallow results received for the Timoni and Sparrow pegmatites, and this area warrants follow up drilling targeting dilational zones. It should be noted, the identification of pegmatites in the mapping completed to date does not imply the presence of lithium mineralisation. The presence of any lithium mineralisation will be determined by drilling and laboratory analyses.
