Venus Metals Corporation Limited and farm-in partner Lepidico Ltd have announced the assay results from the late 2018 reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Youanmi Lepidolite Project in Western Australia.
A preliminary review of the assay results discovered multiple lepidolite-bearing pegmatites at Youanmi with indications of stronger concentrations of lithium mineralisation than previously suggested by geological logging.
The Central Zone was found to contain a complex cluster of over ten pegmatites ranging from 1 metre to 7 metres in width and averaging around 2 metres in thickness.
Average grades over mineralised intercepts were found to range from around 0.4 per cent lithium oxide (Li2O) to 0.7 per cent Li2O and often exceed 1.0 per cent Li2O.
Further to this, the results highlighted that the main ‘Target 1’ pegmatite at the Northern Zone continues as a 3 to 5-metre-thick body to at least 50 metres depth in areas.
In November, a follow-up RC drilling program comprising 38 holes for 811 metres was implemented at the Youanmi Project to gain an understanding of the extent and geometry of the lithium pegmatites.
A total of 181 1-metre-samples were assayed for a broad suite of elements.
Most of the program was directed at the Central Zone, in which 33 holes (mostly shallow) were drilled to gain an insight into the orientation and controls on the mineralisation of the pegmatites.
The results found ‘abundant’ lepidolite mineralisation with most of the holes intersecting significant lithium grades associated with lepidolite.
Some of the best results from the full RC program included 12 metres at 0.68 per cent Li2O, 2 metres at 1.58 per cent Li2O and 4 metres at 0.76 per cent Li2O from lepidolite-rich pegmatites.
Lepidico has stated that although the Youanmi pegmatites are relatively thin, early indications suggest the presence of several strongly lepidolite-mineralised individual pegmatites that might collectively represent an economic opportunity.
Lepidico is now conducting a full review and interpretation of the results and further work will depend on this outcome.
More information on this project can be found here.