Askari Metals has kicked off phase 2 drilling at a key tenement that forms part of its Uis lithium project in Namibia after an ongoing mapping and sampling program highlighted untested pegmatites at the site.
The campaign began late last month and aims to investigate a number of recently discovered pegmatites reported to have visible lithium mineralisation at surface. Askari says the latest RC drill program will cover a minimum of 4000m with four holes already completed and assay results from phase 1 drilling expected in coming weeks.
In December the company wrapped up its first drill campaign at the African operation where it completed 59 RC holes for 3017m as part of an overall 10,000m program where it encountered visible lithium mineralisation.
The Uis Mine View prospect was the main target of the first drill program and took the majority of the metres drilled. The exploration program also tested two other targets including one near the centre of the tenement that produced rock sample results of up to 1.1 per cent lithium oxide and 658 parts per million tantalum. The third target was an area where reconnaissance sampling identified results including 0.92 per cent lithium oxide and 0.76 per cent tin.
Askari Metals Vice President of Geology and Exploration, Johan Lambrechts said: “Askari is continuing its philosophy of aggressive and hands-on exploration with the second phase of drilling commencing on EPL 7345 since purchasing it a mere four months ago. We maintain that we see the Uis lithium project as having extremely high potential and plan to advance it along the value curve as efficiently as possible.”
A recent surface sampling program at Uis returned positive results including grades of up to 3.1 per cent lithium oxide, 1.3 per cent tin, 658 parts per million tantalum and 4214ppm rubidium. The samples were collected over a large number of exposed pegmatites including several old mine workings where historical mining for tin and semi-precious stones occurred.
The project is located directly along strike from an operating tin, tantalum and lithium mine owned by AfriTin Mining that hosts a mineral resource of 71.54 million tonnes at 0.63 per cent lithium oxide, 0.134 per cent tin and 85ppm tantalum.
In December, the explorer signed a binding heads of agreement with Earth Dimensions Consulting to acquire an 80 per cent interest in a lithium prospective tenement adjacent to Uis. That purchase expanded the strategic footprint of Askari’s project to more than 308 square kilometres in the distinguished mineral postcode.
Last month the company began its first phase of drilling at the recently acquired site and has planned more than 40 drill holes as part of 3000m campaign.
Askari has secured a diamond drill rig for follow-up drilling that is expected to commence as soon as possible. The aim is to produce core intersections of the most promising RC intercepts which will be used for metallurgical test work in the future.
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By Matt Birney
