BRAZIL — Summit Minerals Limited (ASX: SUM) has announced the successful completion of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) surveys at its Equador and Juazheirinho Niobium Projects in northeast Brazil, revealing new pegmatite trends and historic artisanal workings.
This development has significantly boosted the prospectivity of these assets, paving the way for expanded exploration efforts.
The LiDAR survey results have unveiled additional pegmatite outcrops within the Equador Project area, including previously unidentified locations.
This discovery complements recent high-grade rock chip sampling results, which have further expanded the project’s potential.
Northwest Area:
- 13.31% Nb₂O₅, 9.06% Ta₂O₅, and 21,600 ppm PREO
- 18.34% Nb₂O₅, 49.63% Ta₂O₅, and 6,080 ppm PREO
- 18.94% Nb₂O₅, 45.12% Ta₂O₅, and 8,640 ppm PREO
South Area:
- 32.69% Nb₂O₅, 33.68% Ta₂O₅, and 9,270 ppm PREO
- 29.74% Nb₂O₅, 38.68% Ta₂O₅, and 4,090 ppm PREO
Summit intends to extend the LiDAR coverage over the newly acquired ‘Equador North’ mining lease to map additional prospective pegmatite outcrops.
This expansion will support the finalisation of trenching, bulk sampling, and metallurgical testing programs.
The company is preparing to launch a bulk sampling program next month, which will support a maiden drilling campaign.
Summit’s exploration team will investigate the new targets identified by the LiDAR survey and conduct detailed mapping and sampling in parallel with the ongoing permitting process.
Gower He, Managing Director of Summit Minerals, expressed enthusiasm about the LiDAR results and the new discoveries.
He stated: “I am extremely pleased with the LiDAR results as well as the new pegmatite and garimpo discoveries our team continues to uncover as we undertake a methodical, diligent and systematic exploration approach to our Equador Project.”
He further added: “With LiDAR completed, the team continues to explore the property as we finalise our drilling permits and make progress towards an intensive campaign of trenching, bulk sampling and metallurgical testing.”
This development marks a significant step forward for Summit Minerals in its exploration efforts at the Equador Niobium Project, setting the stage for potentially valuable discoveries in the near future.