Askari scopes significant WA lithium targets

Battery metals explorer Askari Metals is scoping several significant lithium exploration zones after project-wide targeting and modelling at its Yarrie Lithium project in Western Australia.

Askari says its investigation of the underlying geology, in tandem with the results of a recent hyperspectral survey and early field reconnaissance, led to the generation of a geological model with lithium at its core.

Using the model, the company has identified prospective lithium zones where it aims to demonstrate anomalism through an aggressive foray into the field. The work due to kick off from mid-April will cover a large portion of its holding and ultimately aims to drive further dedicated lithium exploration.

Askari Metals, Vice President of Exploration and Geology, Johan Lambrechts said: “The project is extensive, in a good geological setting and has never seen targeted lithium exploration … we… have produced an exploration model suitable to uncover the lithium potential on our Yarrie tenement. The model incorporates practical exploration experience and an understanding of geological fluid model interactions and their geochemical requirements.”

The explorer has outlined a target area of about 416 square kilometres underlain by geological structures proximal to the mafic rock package it believes to be associated with potential lithium mineralisation.

During the upcoming field program, Askari will cast its sampling net in a variety of ways, including stream sediments and rock chips in addition to a dab of mapping. It says the stream sediments will be useful for the large expanses, whereas the rock chip sampling will be more suited to localised applications.

The company hopes to demonstrate anomalism over the high-priority areas, leading to further systematic exploration and ultimately generating key focus areas for the project.

Although it’s still early days, Askari reported it had locked up a project area of over 1711 square kilometres in a wealthy neighbourhood of major and growing lithium deposits. Seemingly in a hotbed of exploration, management says remarkably, it will be the first explorer to target lithium in its package’s history.

Over its south-eastern fence, also exploring for lithium, is the ASX-listed Kalamazoo Resources and its joint venture partner Chilean-based SQM Lithium – one of the world’s largest producers of lithium hydroxide and carbonate.

A short 30km south lies Global Lithium Resources’ Archer deposit, standing tall at 10.5 million tonnes at 1.0 per cent lithium oxide.

The region also hosts the world-class Pilgangoora, owned by ASX-listed Pilbara Minerals and the Wodgina deposits held by a joint venture between ASX-listed Mineral Resources and global chemical company Albemarle.

The outlook for lithium and its producers seemingly sit under a blue sky as the battery industry continues to grow in leaps and bounds. Strikingly, the CSIRO forecasts Australia could have a fully-electric car fleet by 2050, with electric vehicle sales reaching more than 70 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040.

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