Reach Resources has identified four major targets for lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatites within its Critical Elements project in WA’s Gascoyne region after independent analysis from geological experts.
The initial phase of the assessment by RSC Consultants focused on Reach’s Morrissey Hill, Camel Hill and Wabli Creek projects that form part of the greater Critical Elements operation.
The company says all four targets are defined by favourable geology, multi-element pathfinder geochemistry and the presence of mapped Geological Society of Western Australia tin, tantalum and lithium pegmatites.
Two of the prospects are located within the Camel Hill tenements, with one respective target highlighted at both Morrissey Hill and Wabli Creek.
Morrissey Hill hosts historical high-grade lithium, tantalum, rubidium, caesium and niobium and has returned rock chip samples that include 1.32 per cent lithium oxide, 3.62 per cent tantalum oxide, 1936 parts-per-million rubidium, 2276 ppm caesium and 1.55 per cent niobium oxide.
Reach also recorded impressive grades of 6.78 per cent niobium oxide and 3.71 per cent tantalum oxide from samples at Wabli Creek, while heavy rare earth oxide results from the site included 7226 ppm yttrium oxide, 3430 ppm dysprosium oxide, 4880 ppm ytterbium oxide, 2760 ppm erbium oxide in addition to 450 ppm terbium oxide.
The company says Camel Hill is considered prospective for lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatites due to positive geology and the presence of known tin, tantalum and lithium pegmatites. The operation also boasts historical rock chip samples with total rare earth oxide results of up to 1357 ppm.
Reach Resources Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Bower said: “RSC’s independent expert analysis confirms our belief that our landholding in the Gascoyne has the potential to host significant battery metal deposits. Phase 1 of the assessment focused on the lithium potential at our Critical Elements projects and has not only cemented Morrissey Hill as our primary lithium target but importantly has identified three new lithium target areas.”
Critical Elements sits less than 10km from the Yinnetharra lithium project that Red Dirt purchased for a combined cash and scrip deal worth about $25 million in September last year. Since then, Red Dirt has churned out several eye-catching lithium hits including a recent 55m intersection running 1.12 per cent lithium oxide, which also included a 15m intersection grading as high as 1.52 per cent.
Reach says its new target areas are associated with confirmed fertile parental granites of the Thirty Three and Durlacher supersuites and contain the same metasedimentary sequences that host Yinnetharra.
A helicopter-supported reconnaissance campaign is set to begin early next week to gather more detail on the four priority targets. Airborne and ground geophysical surveys and mapping will begin in coming months in addition to surface geochemical surveys that will include a soil, stream sediment and rock chip sampling program. Reach expects to begin drilling at the site in the second half of the year once all approvals are received.
The company is currently assessing the prospectivity of the greater Critical Elements project for rare earths and manganese after recording a significant 11 per cent manganese sample at the operation. The rare earth analysis is due this month with the manganese data expected to be completed in April.
Gold was first discovered in Western Australia in 1885 and has continued to provide a conga line of lucrative opportunities since then, with massive new discoveries such as De-Grey’s Pilbara-based Hemi deposit still occurring in the modern day.
Lithium is emerging as the new gold of our times, having only really become a thing in the last decade.
With lithium mostly being discovered in pegmatites, those ASX-listed companies that can demonstrate multiple pegmatite occurrences across their ground will get a ticket on the train. Those with lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatites in-particular will be sitting at the front of the train and at first blush it would appear Reach has plenty.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Matt Birney
