US-focussed small cap explorer Hawkstone Mining says its flagship Big Sandy lithium clay project in Arizona state could house between 242.1 million tonnes and 417.6 million tonnes grading from 1,000 parts per million, or “ppm”, to 2,000 ppm of lithium.
The new Exploration Target was unveiled this week, after extensive geological reconnaissance mapping, surface sampling and maiden diamond drilling campaign on-site allowed the company to define the dimensions of the ore system.
Most of the new target lies within the Northern Mineralised Zone, which has been the focus of drilling programs to date, though a thicker, but slightly lower grade, Southern Mineralised Zone was also delineated about 7km to the south southeast.
Hawkstone is currently roaring along with its second stage of diamond drilling at Big Sandy, with assay results from the initial holes of this program pending and due for reporting shortly.
The company is aiming to define a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource for the Big Sandy project after the completion of the present 3,700 metre campaign.
Hawkstone Mining Managing Director Paul Lloyd said: “The Exploration Target marks a significant milestone for the company, in under 12 months we have moved from project acquisition through to advanced drilling, building significant momentum towards our objective of defining a JORC resource.”
“The Exploration Target forms part of an aggressive exploration program with the maiden drilling program confirming significant lithium mineralisation and recent metallurgical testing identifying successful leaching of the lithium from the clays.
“With diamond drilling continuing and further assays pending, the company expects a stream of significant newsflow over the coming months.”
The company has defined the high-grade lithium clay mineralisation in a distinct, green-coloured, lithium-bearing clay horizon called the “Upper Green Unit”.
Drilling results from last year returned true width drill intersections up to 43.8 metres grading 2,089 ppm lithium from only 8.2m down-hole.
Another intersection nearby returned 22m @ 2,020 ppm lithium from 8m down-hole and 11m @ 2,013 ppm lithium from 36m in the same drill hole.
The mineralised unit effectively sits right at the surface and has a soft consistency that is amenable to free digging and will likely require no drill and blast or crushing in any potential future mining and processing activities.
Hawkstone is in good company in this part of the western US, with a number of different companies now focussed on the lithium potential of clay projects in this district, located directly east of the Rockies.
Tesla’s Gigafactory 1, which is a lithium-ion battery and EV sub-assembly factory located about 750km up the highway from Big Sandy in Nevada state, is likely to be a willing customer for the company’s finished lithium product if it can make the project fly.
By Matt Birney
