Aldoro to probe WA lithium targets

Aldoro Resources is set to sink over 60 holes totalling 3730 metres across its Niobe East, Niobe Southeast and Breakaway pegmatites in Western Australia after a RC drill rig was delivered to the site. The program follows a recently wrapped-up exploration campaign that saw the company bag up around 50 rock chip samples with elevated lithium pathfinder minerals.

According to company the program will kick-off at the Niobe East pegmatite system and be aimed at expanding its exploration targets that were delineated through historical exploration and the recent rock chip sampling. Earlier work at Niobe East lifted the lid on a suite of high rubidium and lithium across a massive 400m strike length.

Previous rock chip sampling in the area coughed up elevated rubidium grades of up to 9,307 parts per million. The eye-catching rubidium values seemingly call for a second look as it is considered a “pathfinder” mineral for lithium.

Aldoro says the recently completed assay results suggest it could have unveiled a rubidium and lithium prospect zone that extends beyond the main Niobe pit pegmatite.

The latest result follows a good run of form at the project for the Perth-based company, having only a few months ago suggested its Niobe prospect could be developed into a world-class rubidium resource.

Following its Niobe East probe, Aldoro is planning on testing its Breakaway and Niobe southeast pegmatites after previous exploration unveiled anomalous rubidium and lithium hits that stretched some 100m in strike length at Breakaway and delivered rubidium values grading up to 0.2 per cent.

Aldoro previously lifted the veil on a rubidium exploration target of between 33,000 and 150,000 tonnes at the area’s main pegmatite. According to the company, grades at the target float between 696 and 1457ppm rubidium oxide.

The Niobe ground sits some 70 kilometres north-west of Mount Magnet in WA and is believed to host a battery metal picnic basket that includes an array of lithium and tantalum-rich pegmatites.

As Aldoro looks to tap its rubidium-bearing pegmatites, it could find itself with a bevy of new followers amid the booming global lithium market. If the company can deliver the goods and a solid set of results from its impending probe, it could be laying the foundations for an interesting year ahead.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au