Terrain kicks off lithium exploration near Port Hedland

Terrain Minerals has kicked off a maiden scout soil sampling program at its Carlindie lithium project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, targeting a 15-kilometre-long strike of interpreted lithium-bearing pegmatite structures transecting its southern tenement, about 30km from Wildcat Resources’ big Tabba Tabba lithium deposit. 

The low-cost program aims to generate drill-ready targets from the region’s felsic-hosted lithium potential within 14 days, with results expected in four weeks to inform the design of follow-up drilling next year. 

The company’s project tenure encompasses more than 1100 square kilometres in a globally recognised hub for lithium mineralisation. It sits 90km southeast of the state’s major iron ore export centre of Port Hedland.

Terrain’s Carlindie project is bookended by Sociedad Química y Minera’s Dom’s Hill lithium project, 30km east, and Wildcat Resources’ Tabba Tabba lithium deposit, 30km west-northwest. The Tabba Tabba deposit has an estimated mineral resource of 74.1 million tonnes at 1 per cent lithium oxide. 

Structurally, Terrain’s southern Carlindie project tenement spans a 15km-long section of a persistent west-northwest trending linear regional structure that transects Wildcat’s Tabba Tabba deposit and its recent Bolt Cutter Central discovery, a further 4km from Tabba Tabba.

Recent exploration at Bolt Cutter Central returned drill intercepts including 20 metres assaying 1.7 per cent lithium oxide from 43m downhole, 13m going 1.4 per cent lithium oxide from 39m and 13m running 1.3 per cent lithium oxide from 40m.

The results reinforce Terrain’s exploration model that felsic-hosted pegmatites in the region could host significant lithium mineralisation, challenging the more prevalent focus on greenstone-hosted pegmatites. If the model is proven, it could expand the region’s lithium potential.

Terrain Minerals executive director Justin Virgin said: “The recent greenfield lithium discovery by Wildcat Resources at its Bolt Cutter Central project, in addition to the known lithium mineralisation at Tabba Tabba, appears to be hosted by the same interpreted geological structure that extends across Terrain’s Carlindie project.” 

The company’s soil sampling program is designed to cover the prospective 15km-long strike of the defined tectonic structure within the company’s southernmost tenement. The program will comprise a 400m by 400m grid pattern for about 860 samples. 

The results will guide a planned infill sampling campaign later this year, followed by a heritage survey early next year to support a reverse circulation drilling program, if warranted.

The Department of Mines has already approved up to 100 reverse circulation holes at Carlindie, positioning Terrain for rapid advancement.

Terrain’s diversified exploration strategy spans lithium, gold, gallium, copper and rare earths.  Its portfolio includes the company’s Smokebush project for gold and gallium in WA’s Yalgoo region, the Biloela copper-gold project in Queensland and its Lort River rare earths project in the Albany-Fraser Belt near Esperance. 

Recent drilling at Smokebush’s Monza gold prospect yielded high-grade gold results, while the Larin’s Lane prospect shows potential for a significant clay-hosted gallium project. 

Biloela covers 2500 square kilometres and is adjacent to the Cracow gold mine, while Lort River has confirmed high-grade rare earths, including neodymium and praseodymium.

Despite a softer lithium market since its 2023 peak, Terrain remains optimistic about lithium’s long-term demand due to the cyclical nature of the commodities. 

The company figures its low-cost, targeted exploration approach will enable it to achieve maximum benefit from its diverse asset base, including the Pilbara’s well-established lithium prospectivity.

Terrain Minerals’ swift move into its Carlindie project underscores its strategy to capitalise on the Pilbara’s lithium potential. With its diversified portfolio and a focus on cost-effective exploration, the company appears well-placed in a constantly evolving commodity market. 

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