Widgie Nickel Limited (ASX: WIN) has commenced drilling on the recently discovered Faraday Lithium prospect in Western Australia.
Faraday was discovered during field reconnaissance with assays from a rock chip sampling programme confirming lithium bearing pegmatites outcropping over a 600-metre strike, with surface expressions of up to 25 meters wide.
Visible spodumene has been identified at several locations with multiple high-grade Li2O values returned from 14 rock chip samples. Higher values of note include: S10013-2.61%Li2O; S10014-3.70%Li2O; S10015-2.86%Li2O; S10017-3.60%Li2O; S10019-2.91%Li2O; S10021-3.04%Li2O; and S10025–2.73%Li2O.
With limited historical lithium exploration across the Mt Edwards project, the recent rock chip results highlight the promising potential of the project area. The Mt Edwards project is in the heart of a world class lithium region, known as ‘Western Australia’s lithium corridor’, which covers a total strike extent of more than 100 kilometres in the Eastern Goldfields region
It is great to rapidly get on the ground with an RC drill rig,” Managing Director, Steve Norregaard, said.
“We will quickly get an idea of the geometry and determine the underlying spodumene distribution at depth, so we can better target a more expanded drill program early in the New Year. Bring it on!”
Drilling Aims
Historical wide spaced soil sampling by previous explorers identified a strong lithium anomaly located within tenement M15/102. The soil anomaly had no follow up exploration until the recent rock chip samples collected by Widgie during early September 2022.
Mr Norregaard said drilling planned will aim to achieve two primary objectives:
a. Geometry
From the scissor holes planned an accurate estimation of the prevailing dip orientation of the two mineralised “pegmatites” will be able to be determined. Drilling scissor holes will cater for the potential for variable dips other than that postulated.
During the drilling phase senior Widgie geological staff will be present to direct drilling. Should drilling at the end of each projected hole remain in “pegmatites” this can and will be extended under supervision up to the maximum drilling capability of the RC rig, which is 350m.
Pending results, and should the hole end in pegmatite, Widgie has an onsite diamond rig capability and thus can readily extend the hole should this be appropriate.
b. Spodumene distribution
Little is understood of the distribution of Spodumene (and potentially other lithium minerals) within the pegmatite. Drilling chips and resultant sampling/assays will allow Widgie to gain an understanding of how pervasive the lithium is within the pegmatite and the broader felsic unit.
Gaining fresh sample will also allow Widgie to carry out XRD mineralogical assessment to fully determine the spread of lithium minerals. From initial assessment, Spodumene, which has the chemical formulae LiAl(SiO3), is the main lithium bearing mineral observed at the Faraday prospect. The presence of other lithium minerals, such as petalite or lepidolite, from visual observation is believed to be subordinate to the more desirable Spodumene mineral.
This initial programme comprises six Reverse Circulation (RC) holes for a planned minimum of 740 m of drilling, and will be completed over approximately a week’s duration. Samples will be expedited to Perth for processing with Widgie hopeful of receiving assays prior to the Christmas break. This will enable follow up planning, so that upon resumption of activities in the New Year, Widgie is able to advance on ground activities associated with Faraday.
