‘Outstanding discovery potential’ with grades of up to 4.61% Li2O confirmed at Pioneer Lithium’s Benham project

Channel sampling assays have returned Li2O grades of up to 4.61% from a 40m-long pegmatite at Benham
Pioneer Lithium’s Benham project is surrounded by developing lithium assets straddling the Ghost Lake batholith
Ontario is emerging as a significant lithium district

Special Report: After acquiring the Benham lithium project back in November, Pioneer Lithium hit the ground running with exploration across an identified 40m-long spodumene-bearing pegmatite which has now returned channel sampling assays that show up to 4.61% Li2O.

Pioneer Lithium’s (ASX:PLN) Benham project is in good company. It’s just 70km from Critical Resources’ (ASX: CRR) Mavis Lake lithium project and wedged between Patriot Lithium’s (ASX:PAT) Dryden project and Canada-listed Beyond Lithium’s Victory and Victory West projects.

Benham is a package of 30 claims across ~1,245ha immediately south of the boundary between the Winnipeg River and Western Wabigoon sub-provinces of the Archaean Superior Craton, and straddle a narrow greenstone belt proximal to the peraluminous, two-mica Ghost Lake batholith and its smaller satellites – areas deemed to be highly prospective for LCT pegmatites.

Ontario is abuzz with projects from mining, right through the supply chain to a plethora of car manufacturers such as Stellantis (the umbrella of Dodge, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Peugot and Citroën brands), Ford and Honda that are pouring billions of dollars into the region.

High-grade lithium along the pegmatite

Assay results from channel sampling have now confirmed visual estimates of spodumene mineralisation at an identified 40m-long pegmatite, north-west corner of the project area with best assay results showing up to 4.61% Li2O.

The Benham spodumene pegmatite discovery and channel samples. Source: PLN

PLN executive chair Robert Martin says the channel sampling results are a great way to start the year, with lab assays confirming the visual estimates reported by the team late last year.

“The rapid discovery of up to 60 pegmatite outcrops last year in the narrow exploration window in November was a tremendous result in itself,” Martin says.

“The fact that we now have confirmed high-grade spodumene mineralisation in channel samples vindicates our decision to expedite exploration at the project.

“Rock chip sampling has also provided favourable indicators of the right pathfinder elements and geochemical ratios to support the presence of highly fractionated LCT pegmatites in the vicinity of these mineralised outcrops.

“This supports the potential of the Benham project and we look forward to obtaining further data to help us plan the next steps.”

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Pioneer Lithium, 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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