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- Golden State Mining (GSM) kicks off lithium drilling at its Yule project in Western Australia
- The company is completing a 2000-metre drill run with an RC rig
- A follow-up 14,000 metre aircore program will explore the Bella Yule target where only minimal drilling was conducted in the early 2000s
- The company’s Yule project straddles the Mallina Basin in WA’s Pilbara, increasingly seen as a potential lithium hotspot
- GSM shares are up 14.5 cents, trading at 3.6 cents at 11:08 am AEST
Golden State Mining (GSM) has commenced an “aggressive” reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at its Yule project in Western Australia.
The 2000-metre drill run is seeking out lithium mineralisation, following up on the results of a geophysical survey that found traces of pathway mineral caesium, seen as promising evidence of a potential lithium system.
Electromagnetic imaging is informing the company where to place the drills and Golden State geotechs are confident they’ve identified lithium-bearing pegmatites underground.
The company’s Yule project overlies the Mallina Basin in WA’s Pilbara region.
“Aeromagnetic surveys and a detailed ground gravity survey at Nomad have provided us with exciting lithium targets…the Pilbara region’s Mallina Basin continues to grow from strength to strength for its world-class lithium prospectivity,” GSM Managing Director Michael Moore said.
“Golden State Mining is glad to have its skin in the game in one of Western Australia’s most exciting jurisdictions.”
This first round of drilling is taking place at the company’s Nomad prospect. At the Balla Yule prospect, which is believed to contain possible lithium mineralisation and also nickel, drilling will commence in mid-to-late August once the rigs are done at Nomad.
Minimal drilling was conducted at Balla Yule in the early 2000s. The company is seeking to confirm the reliability of electromagnetic data with a fleshed-out drilling campaign at the target.
That second drill run in late August will use aircore rigs, allowing for a larger campaign given the lower cost. Up to 14,000 metres of drillhole will be sunk in the second stage.
Golden State Mining shares were up 14.5 cents, trading at 3.6 cents at 11:08 am AEST.
