Aldoro Resources has planned a rock chip sampling program targeting high-interest lithium and rubidium pegmatites, following up some exciting previous rock chip samples at its Wyemandoo project approximately 80 kilometres southeast of Mount Magnet in WA. Previously reported grades included a rock chip grading a respectable 2.6 per cent lithium and 1.7 per cent rubidium.
The Wyemandoo project contains what the company refers to as the “Loop Pegmatite” area and the broader “Fairway Corridor” which will be a key focus of the upcoming rock chip sampling program. The Loop Pegmatite area previously produced an average grade of 1.06 per cent lithium and 0.94 per cent rubidium from a previous rock chip sampling program consisting of an aggregate 22 samples.
Satellite imagery interpretation identified more than 1000 dyke-like features with a number of geomorphic domes appearing across the area. Several known lepidolite pegmatites have been prioritised based on distance from parental magmas that discriminate the levels of fractionation into zones.
Rock chip sampling will commence in the higher priority domes with known lepidolite bearing pegmatites scheduled first on the exploration run sheet. Samples will be collected at intervals of 30-40 metres following along strike.
A portable XRF will be used in conjunction with rock chip sampling to delineate possible rubidium anomalies. Lithium levels are not detected by portable XRF devices so rubidium is often measured instead as a lithium proxy and considered a pathfinder element for lithium.
Sampling at the Wyemandoo project has been planned over the high-interest pegmatites that are known to contain lepidolite micas in the central Fairway Corridor and Loop Pegmatite target.
The Wyemandoo pegmatite Fairway Corridor has been interpreted to be over 10km in length and up to 6km wide with lepidolite bearing rock chip samples confirmed over a 9km strike length and up to 3km wide.
In terms of size, the Wyemandoo pegmatite field is comparable to other lithium bearing pegmatite fields like the Greenbushes 7km by 1km deposit and the Pilgangoora 7km by 1km deposit.
The Wyemandoo pegmatites represent a new lithium and rubidium bearing lepidolite pegmatite field in WA, located approximately 25km north-northwest from Lithium Australia’s prospective tenements in the Youanmi pegmatite field.
With the price of lithium up a staggering 463 per cent in the past 12 months, the recent lithium bearing pegmatite discovery at Wyemandoo couldn’t come at a better time for Aldoro, and it will likely waste no time getting stuck into sampling work to see just how big its latest lithium asset is.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Matt Birney
