Infinity Mining has a renewed optimism in its search for more lithium-bearing pegmatites and rare earths after positive results in the latest field program at its South Tambourah project in WA’s Pilbara region.
The expanded field mapping and sampling campaign follows the return of eight rock chip samples collected late last year that confirm lithium mineralisation of up to 3.86 per cent lithium, 338.5 parts-per-million caesium, 174ppm niobium, 233.7ppm tantalum and an impressive 3013.5ppm rubidium.
The positive samples were collected from previously-identified pegmatites as well as new pegmatites discovered in the north-west area of the South Tambourah tenements. Infinity believes the results show the potential to extend the zone of lithium-bearing pegmatites targeted during last year’s maiden drill campaign at the site.
Ongoing field work and mapping will include the company’s recently-acquired extension to the Tambourah South tenements after it picked up a 250 square kilometre land parcel prospective for gold and lithium in November. The program will aim to identify spodumene zones in previously-mapped pegmatites that were missed during the original sampling campaign.
The company says the presence of elevated levels of caesium, tantalum, rubidium and niobium from the latest assays highlights the prospectivity for lithium mineralisation of the operation.
Infinity Mining Chief Executive Officer, Joe Groot, said: “This first quarter programme for hidden pegmatite units as well as new surface expressions of pegmatite units will guide the second quarter drilling campaign.”
A new survey technique using real-time data processing to model a 3D map of the underlying geology of the site will also be launched this month at Tambourah South. The Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) survey technology will allow the explorer to map in 3D down to several hundred metres where it says lithium, caesium and tantalum-rich pegmatites identified at surface have grown at depth.
Infinity believes the 3D model should show if the pegmatites are thickening up or merging with other pegmatites. Additionally, the company also hopes to identify concealed flat-lying pegmatites that are not visible at the surface. An ANT survey covers a much greater area at significantly lower cost than drilling, allowing the company to refine and update the next stage of its exploration campaigns.
In November last year, Infinity wrapped up its maiden RC drilling campaign at Tambourah South with visible lepidolite and spodumene spotted in 18 of the 21 holes sunk for 1812m.
A total of 41 individual pegmatite intervals were logged, varying from 1m to 35m in width, and most contained visual lithium minerals lepidolite and spodumene.
Just last month, Infinity secured a five-year extension for its Tambourah South tenement that forms part of its wider Tambourah project. The greater operation sits in the evolving Pilbara pegmatite province, home to Pilbara Minerals’ 305-million-tonne Pilgangoora lithium project, which averages 1.1 per cent lithium oxide.
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By Matt Birney
