Tivan Limited (ASX: TVN) has identified five new prospects with surface sampling at the Sandover Project in the Northern Territory.
The Sandover Project is located 100km north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and covers an area of approximately 8,000 sq. km2 across two contiguous blocks of Exploration Licences in the Northern Arunta Pegmatite Province (five granted, eight under application.
The project is considered prospective to host lithium-bearing pegmatites, as seen elsewhere in the Northern Arunta Pegmatite Province, and also sediment-hosted copper and iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits, following recent work by the Northern Territory Geological Survey.
Tivan has entered into an Exploration Alliance Agreement with EARTH AI to advance exploration activities at the Sandover Project under a success based model providing access to innovative artificial intelligence (AI) capability for targeting and testing.
New assay results from surface sampling have confirmed the following:
1. Copper target confirmed by initial assay results with a maximum of 0.12% Cu. The copper mineralisation is present within an epidote rich alteration rock. Tungsten and bismuth enrichments are present alongside copper, consistent with the Tennant Creek IOCG-style source signature.
2. Lithium target confirmed by enrichments in the lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) style association (lithium 82ppm, caesium 25ppm, niobium 53ppm and tantalum 4ppm). The lithium mineralised samples display enrichments in caesium, niobium and tantalum, characteristic of the LCT metal signature. The fine-grained rocks analysed in this area contrast with the outcropping pegmatites located a few hundred meters away, which lack these enrichments. Ongoing research into the zonation of pegmatites may provide valuable insights into the local geology.
3. In addition, three more targets confirmed standalone lithium enrichment of 20-80ppm.
Tivan and EARTH AI are encouraged by the early results and have agreed to advance these prospects to the next stage of work. This involves geological and alteration mapping, geochemical analysis, and thin section and electron microscopy studies. Subsequent actions will entail the development of drill hypotheses, in parallel with securing the relevant approvals for drilling, processes that can be completed during the upcoming wet season.
To supplement expected future drilling programmes on the recently identified prospects, Tivan will apply for Round 17 of the Northern Territory Government Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program. The Sandover Project is targeting commodities that are on the Northern Territory’s current and emerging critical minerals list and offers significant potential to advance exploration activity and support the discovery and development of resources in the Territory.
Consistent with Tivan’s firmwide policy of timely and forthright communications, we are providing this update today to ensure shareholders are informed on progress at Sandover that is regarded as material. We will provide future updates on this basis and continue on the fastest track in our Alliance with EARTH AI,” Executive Chairman, Grant Wilson, said.
