Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) has reported further outstanding intersections from the ongoing drilling programme at its 100%-owned Kathleen Valley Lithium- Tantalum Project in WA.
The new results follow the recent release of an interim Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) upgrade of 139Mt @ 1.3% Li2O and 140ppm Ta2O5, which has confirmed Kathleen Valley as a Tier-1 hard-rock spodumene-lithium resource.
Managing Director, David Richards, said the latest results again demonstrate the continuity of high-grade mineralisation at Kathleen Valley, with the system remaining open both down-dip and along strike to the north-west.
The lithium mineralisation at Kathleen Valley is associated with spodumene which is contained within LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum)-type pegmatites that intrude Archaean greenstones. Ongoing metallurgical test work indicates that the pegmatites contain less than 0.5% Fe.
The current drilling programme, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-late March 2020, is designed to test for extensions of the high-grade mineralisation and provide the in-fill data required to prepare an updated MRE which largely comprises Measured and Indicated material, available for conversion to Ore Reserves.
Mr Richards said that due to the high-grade mineralisation (>3% Li2O) which has been intersected in the north-western part of the deposit, the original drilling programme has been extended until mid-late March and the updated MRE is now scheduled for completion in mid-late April 2020.
The April 2020 MRE will form the basis of a Definitive Feasibility Study which will assess the extraction of ore from both an underground and open pit perspective and which is anticipated to provide the best outcome for the project.
Since drilling re-commenced in late August 2019, 46 new RC holes have been drilled, 11 previous RC holes have been extended and 48 new diamond core holes have been drilled for a total of 36,818m. Twelve of the diamond core holes have been drilled for geotechnical purposes.
The total amount of drilling completed by Liontown at Kathleen Valley comprises 439 holes for 84,453m, including 349 RC holes for 60,877m and 90 diamond core holes for 23,576m. This total includes 39 RC holes which have been extended following the receipt of results along strike that indicated the potential for deeper mineralisation.
