ASX-listed junior explorer Aruma Resources has launched a 3,000 metre RC drilling campaign targeting a previously identified pegmatite swarm at its Mt Deans lithium project approximately 170 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie. Pegmatite occurrences have been mapped over a 1km strike length and historically yielded high-grade surface rock chips grading up to 2.1 per cent lithium and 555.9 parts per million tantalum.
The campaign will consist of 3,000m of RC drilling to approximately 200m in depth with holes spaced 50m apart. The first phase drilling is designed to confirm the presence of a historically mapped thick pegmatite pod and attempt to intersect an interpreted pegmatite chamber or ‘cauldron’.
Aruma believes that the Mt Deans project holds great potential for lithium, tantalum and rare earths mineralisation.
The Mt Deans project is located in something of a ‘lithium corridor’ as the area hosts multiple significant lithium projects such as those at Mt Marion, Bald Hill and Buldania.
Drill targets were based on the convergent dips seen in historic drilling that intersected pegmatites.
Previously four rock chip samples were taken at the Mt Deans project and analysed for lithium and tantalum mineralisation with all four samples returning anomalous grades. The average grades across all four samples came in at 1.4 per cent lithium and 275ppm tantalum.
The average grades encountered at Mt Deans fair well when compared against several other major lithium projects in Western Australia. The Liontown owned Kathleen Valley deposit is considered world-class and also boasts a 1.4 per cent lithium grade however it only has an average tantalum grade of 130ppm in comparison.
Another of Liontown’s major lithium projects is Buldania that has a 1.0 per cent lithium grade with 44ppm tantalum. Additionally, the Pilbara Minerals owned Pilgangoora project hosts an average lithium content of 1.3 per cent with 120ppm tantalum.
Aruma’s Mt Deans project appears to be in a good postcode for lithium. The early geological signs are likely to quicken the pulse of a field geologist – now for some action with the drill bit.
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