In the heart of the Northern Territory’s highly prospective Arunta pegmatite province, junior explorer Askari Metals has spotted and sampled major outcropping pegmatites in the latest field campaign at its Barrow Creek lithium project.
At the end of March, Askari strapped its boots on for another foray into the field intent on identifying and sampling outcropping pegmatites in the project’s previously unexplored southeastern region.
After returning from the field, the explorer describes the southeastern area as hosting large, continuous pegmatite outcrops traced along an expansive strike length exceeding 6.2 kilometres. Notably, to Askari’s eyes, the pegmatites look similar to the fertile pegmatites encountered to the north, however are “significantly more numerous and larger”.
A total of 69 rock chip samples were collected across all visible outcropping pegmatites, with most samples collected from a 1.6km long section from the work area. Curiously, a gossanous area - or area of intensely oxidised, weathered rock which is also usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein - was also identified. Assay results from the southeast are anticipated as early as May.
According to Askari, a significant number of untested targets remain in the southeast and further exploration of the broader area is planned after tweaking its strategy following results from its recent samples.
Exploration permits have been submitted to the state regulator and upon approval, Askari will begin its first barrage of reverse circulation holes into the project with the company anticipating the rods to start spinning in the second quarter.
The inaugural drilling program will initially focus on the northwestern region, before advancing to the southeast.
Fertile lithium-caesium-tantalum type pegmatites were first spotted on the project in February, with preliminary sampling yielding up to 817 parts per million lithium oxide.
The explorer promptly embarked on a follow-up phase of exploration in the northwestern portion of the project. It tested high-priority targets with 119 rock samples and 350 soil samples across 18 square kilometres with assays expected from the follow-up this month.
Whilst having a keen interest in gold, Askari has hedged its bets in the emerging ‘New Economy’ by stacking its portfolio full of battery metals projects. In addition to Barrow Creek in the Northern Territory, Askari holds two other lithium projects along with a pair of copper ventures all in Western Australia.
According to Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance research arm, demand for lithium will jump a staggering fivefold by the end of the decade. With an increase of that magnitude, it’s no wonder these outcropping pegmatites have got the pulses racing a little quicker at Askari.
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