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- Hammer Metals (HMX) discovers a new lithium-bearing zone through sampling at its Yandal project in Western Australia
- The 200-metre zone has been named “Tapenade” and returned rock chips grading 0.65 per cent lithium as well as up to 1795 parts per million (ppm) rubidium and 180 ppm caesium
- The company also sampled the Orelia 1 target, which showed anomalous levels of pathfinder elements, pointing to the potential for lithium-bearing minerals
- Hammer plans to follow up on this work with an aircore drilling program set to begin next year
- Company shares are trading at 7.9 cents at 12:14 pm AEDT
Hammer Metals (HMX) has identified a new lithium-bearing zone at its Yandal project in Western Australia.
The company undertook a reconnaissance sampling program to investigate lithium, gold, nickel and rare earth anomalies identified during a recent soil geochemical program.
This work uncovered a 200-metre outcropping lithium zone which has been named “Tapenade”.
Tapenade returned rock chip results of 0.65 per cent lithium oxide, which are accompanied by elevated rubidium, caesium, tantalum, as well as several other rare earth elements (REEs).
Highlighted assay results from the newly-discovered zone include 180 parts per million (ppm) caesium, 1795 ppm rubidium and 164 ppm niobium.
While the company said it found these initial results encouraging, further sampling is required to further delineate this zone along-strike and sample the associated pegmatites.
Additionally, Hammer conducted sampling on the western side of the Orelia Target 1 gold prospect.
While the initial sampling didn’t uncover significant lithium-bearing zones, the pegmatites have low ratios and geochemically anomalous levels of beryllium, caesium, tantalum and rubidium. Due to this, the company believes the pegmatites have the potential to host lithium-bearing minerals.
Managing Director Daniel Thomas said seeing early-stage lithium prospects at Yandal was an “exciting development”.
“Whilst it is very early days in our review of these systems, the addition of lithium prospects to our copper-centric portfolio is the perfect fit for a company with aspirations to supply materials to meet the globe’s requirements for a clean and green supply and distribution of energy,” he said.
Hammer Metals plans to conduct an aircore drilling program next year, which will focus on several high-quality targets at Yandal.
Company shares were trading at 7.9 cents at 12:14 pm AEDT.
