Rock chip samples from three recently discovered pegmatite sites at Tambourah Metals’ namesake gold and lithium project in WA’s Pilbara region have returned elevated rubidium and lithium results.
The 17 samples were assayed at Labwest for a full suite of pegmatite elements, with 12 recording between 151 and 842 parts per million rubidium and another four samples returning lithium grades between 96 and 226 ppm.
The sample with the highest lithium grade of 226 ppm also returned rubidium results of 323 ppm.
The three new pegmatite sites were discovered during a field trip in April and the company’s geologists returned this month for a second visit, where new pegmatites were identified, mapped and sampled.
Another 21 pegmatite rock chip samples have been delivered to the laboratory for analysis.
Tambourah says the samples were from near an identified granite-greenstone contact that it says is becoming a regionally significant exploration target.
Tambourah Metals Executive Chairman, Rita Brooks said: “These first assay results for lithium at Tambourah are very encouraging. We are looking forward to the results of the second batch of samples collected during July and to further exploring the Tambourah mineral field for more pegmatites.”
The Tambourah project is about 80 km from the operating world-class Pilgangoora lithium mine and its neighbouring Wodgina lithium deposits underline the lithium prospectivity of the region.
In April Tambourah pegged new tenements prospective for gold and lithium, calling it the Nullagine project.
The 34-tenement package under application covers 5788 hectares and is 5km north of the explorer’s Russian Jack lithium project in the Pilbara that was granted in March.
The explorer says the pegged ground at Nullagine is surrounded by historical lithium-tin-tantalum prospects.
Tambourah has also had recent success in gold exploration at its namesake project where last month it confirmed gold-bearing quartz veins at its Tambourah King prospect after receiving early assay results from drilling completed in March.
Results include one hole going 22m at 2.83 grams per tonne gold from 22m, containing 9m at 6.46 g/t from 35m and 1m at 9.86 g/t from 39m.
Although the full extent and geometry of Tambourah King is yet to be understood, the company says the mineralisation is open in all directions.
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By Matt Birney
