New Age drilling to start next week in lithium-rich Pilbara neighbourhood

New RC drilling program to begin ‘in the coming week’ at Quartz Hill, just 30km from Pilgangoora and Wodgina lithium mines
LCT pegmatites typical of the Central Pilbara have been identified at Quartz Hill with multiple high-priority targets to be tested with the drill bit
NAE recently banked $2.5 million to fund its upcoming exploration ambitions

 

Special Report: New Age Exploration is beginning a fresh search for LCT pegmatites in the same Pilbara neighbourhood as the established Pilgangoora and Wodgina lithium operations and the emerging Andover discovery.

With a project timetable now established and the necessary heritage clearances secured, New Age Exploration (ASX: NAE) expects to start lithium-focused RC drilling at its Quartz Hill project in the coming week.

Quartz Hill is about 30km from the Pilgangoora and Wodgina lithium mines operated by Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) and Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN)/Albemarle Corporation.

The Andover lithium discovery made by Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) – and currently subject to a takeover from Chilean giants SQM – is several hundred kilometres to the west.

NAE plans to drill multiple high-priority LCT targets at Quartz Hill where Ultrafine+ (UFF) soil sampling had identified several LCT target areas.

The company raised $2.5 million in late September to fund the upcoming exploration.

 

Targeting ‘absolute lithium’ at Quartz Hill

NAE believes the LCT targets it has identified at Quartz Hill have “absolute lithium” concentrations in excess of 100ppm and are supported by variably anomalous caesium, niobium, tungsten, tin, beryllium and tantalum.

Recent third-party statistical assessment of more than 14,000 UFF soil samples in both the Mid-West and Pilbara Craton confirmed lithium concentrations were “highly anomalous” in the 95th percentile grading 102ppm lithium.

NAE managing director Joshua Wellisch said the imminent drilling program would initially test below cover target areas of lithium anomalism detected in soil samples.

Passive seismic surveys will also be used to assess the depth of cover and other subterranean features.

 

Ready, set, drill!

Wellisch said the NAE technical team had assessed potential mineralisation styles in the spodumene-rich Central Pilbara region as they gear up for the drilling activities.

“We are very excited to have confirmed a maiden drilling program at Quartz Hill, which is to begin in the coming week, as we finalise preparations to assess the high priority targets,” he said.

“The focus will be on the evaluation of the initial set of highly anomalous UFF LCT anomalies on the edge of the fertile granites.”

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with New Age Exploration, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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