Wildcat Resources Limited (ASX: WC8) has commenced RC drilling at the Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum Project near Port Hedland, WA.
The initial programme is targeting the outcropping pegmatites in the northern and central Mining Leases.
It is a great feeling to see Wildcat drilling at Tabba Tabba, a project that last saw drilling activity in 2014, when tantalum was prized far more than lithium,” Managing Director Samuel Ekins said.
“Our exploration team has done a great job to get us in this position so soon after announcing the deal to acquire this amazing asset. With the support of our drilling contractor Topdrill, we have a quality field camp on site that will enable us to scale up our exploration activities as our knowledge and capacity increases.”
The Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum Project is located on granted mining tenements just 80km by road from Port Hedland, Western Australia and is nearby some of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium mines, with the district currently producing around 20% of global lithium supply.
Drilling Operations
The first phase of drilling comprises thirty (30) angled RC holes, planned to depths ranging from 100m to 275m, with an average depth of 150m. Drilling commenced in the northern part of the tenement package and will progress south, testing targets at various orientations, and at broad spacings, to allow an initial assessment of the potential geometry and composition of the pegmatites.
The aim of the drilling underway is to conduct a first pass test of the northern and central mining leases for pegmatite-hosted lithium mineralisation. The initial program has been designed as a scouting program to identify priority targets for more intensive testing over the coming months.
An additional RC drill rig, and then a diamond drill rig, will be mobilised to Tabba Tabba as initial results are received and as knowledge of the geometry and mineralogy of the system advances.
A high-calibre geology team has been assembled to support the drilling and mapping activities at Tabba Tabba and regional exploration across Wildcat’s extensive Pilbara landholdings. The exceptional field camp facilities established by Topdrill at Tabba Tabba will allow our team to maintain high productivity over the coming months.
Next Steps
- Progress RC drilling across the northern and central part of the Tabba Tabba mining leases
- Continue with mapping and sampling of pegmatite outcrops
- Receive and report first assay results
- Ramp up drilling operations
