Power Minerals (ASX: PNN) is planning to undertake a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) survey at its Lĺtio Niobium Project in Paraiba State, Brazil.
The LiDAR survey aims to provide expedited new, priority exploration targets at the Lĺtio Project, and is the next phase of Power’s systematic exploration of the Project.
Power’s LiDAR survey at Lĺtio will be an airborne (drone controlled) survey, and will initially cover an area of 1600 hectares. It is designed to provide very high-resolution imagery to identify pegmatite trends and facilitate detailed mapping of the survey area.
The survey will also provide a detailed 3D topography image of the terrain including any existing artisanal workings (Garimperios), which will further aid in mapping the pegmatite trends.
LiDAR is a cost effective optical remote-sensing technique that uses laser light to densely sample the earth’s surface and is able to produce highly accurate measurements.
It is expected to be completed in the current quarter and results will be released when available.
“The LiDAR survey represents the next stage in our systematic exploration and appraisal of the Lltio Project. It provides an excellent, cost effective method to help identify and define exploration targets within the Project area. The data generated by the survey is expected to identify pegmatite trends within the Project area and allow for detailed mapping of the survey area,” Managing Director, Mena Habib, said.
“This work forms part of our expedited exploration plans at the Lltio Project, which are designed to deliver targets for a first-phase of drilling.”
Lĺtio Project background
The Project comprises three permits and is considered highly prospective for niobium, rare earth (REE) and lithium.
Power recently completed the acquisition of the Lĺtio Project and has conducted a highly successful initial stage of surface sampling which confirmed the presence of high-grade niobium, tantalum and rare earth elements (REE) within the Project area, with results including (ASX Announcement 22 July 2024);
The Lĺtio Project is adjacent to Summit Minerals’ (ASX: SUM) Equador Project, which has returned laboratory assay results from sampling of up to 63.07% Nb2O5, 47.17% Ta2O5 and 24,760ppm (2.47%) partial rare earth oxides (PREO). The geology of Summit’s Equador Project is interpreted to continue into the Lĺtio Project.
Next Steps
Power plans to use the results of the LiDAR survey, in conjunction with ongoing sampling programs at Lĺtio, to define and prioritise exploration targets. The Company plans to utilise the imagery and topography model generated by the LiDAR survey to assist in defining location(s) for potential bulk sampling and a first-phase drilling programne (subject to results).
Power also plans to map the locations and use existing artisanal workings (Garimperios) as a guide to defining other prospective target areas.