Drill Results Demonstrate Potential to Expand JORC Resource
Brisbane, Nov 17, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Sayona Mining Limited (
ASX:SYA) (DMNXF:OTCMKTS) ("Sayona" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the assay results from the final ten diamond drill holes at the Authier lithium project, Quebec.
Highlights
- High-grade spodumene mineralisation intersected at shallow and deep levels
- New drilling expands high-grade zones of spodumene mineralisation throughout the deposit including, 23 metres @ 1.77% Li2O
- Drilling program has demonstrated the potential to expand the size of the JORC Resource
All the diamond drill holes have intercepted high-grade spodumene mineralisation with best drilling intercepts, including:
- Hole 09 - 38 metres @ 1.10% Li2O from 192 metres including, 23 metres @ 1.35% Li2O from 192 metres;
- Hole 11 - 46 metres @ 1.26% Li2O from 135 metres including, 24 metres @ 1.62% Li2O from 137 metres;
- Hole 12 - 47 metres @ 1.05% Li2O from 161 metres including, 27 m @ 1.31% Li2O from 167 metres;
- Hole 13 - 24 metres @ 1.25% Li2O from 184 metres;
- Hole 14 - 45 metres @ 1.08% Li2O from 148 metres including, 18 metres @ 1.34% Li2O from 171 metres;
- Hole 015 - 20 metres @ 1.32% Li2O from 242 metres;
- Hole 16 - 28 metres @ 1.20% Li2O from 158 metres including, 18 metres @ 1.39% Li2O from 162 metres; and
- Hole 17 - 45 metres @ 1.28% Li2O from 190 metres including, 23 metres @ 1.77% Li2O from 190 metres.
Six new drill holes have successfully tested the deep extensions of mineralisation at the main Authier pegmatite, and four holes the geometry of the Authier pegmatite at shallow levels in the eastern and central sectors in order to upgrade the resource categories from indicated to measured.
The Company believes the new drilling has the potential to expand the size of the existing JORC Resource, and the mineralisation remains open in all directions. The Company is pleased with the combination of thickness and high-grades of spodumene intersections reported from the drilling program. More drilling is planned for early 2017.
Phase 1 Diamond Drilling Program New Assay Summary
The Company has completed the phase 1 diamond drilling program at Authier including 18 holes for 3,967 metres with the objectives, including:
- Converting the inferred mineral resources to measured and indicated through further drilling;
- Exploring for extensions to the existing mineral resources and other potential mineralisation within the tenement package;
- Collecting geotechnical data for incorporation in the Authier Feasibility Studies; and
- Collecting drill core for any additional metallurgical testing that may be required to complete a Definitive Feasibility study, planned for 2017.
The final diamond drill holes (see Table 1 in the link below) have all intersected high-grade spodumene mineralisation, including:
- AL-16-008 (East zone) - 36 metres @ 0.93 % Li2O from 162 metres including, 10 metres @ 1.32 % Li2O from 163 metres;
- AL-16-009 (West zone) - 38 metres @ 1.10 % Li2O from 192 metres including, 23 metres @ 1.35 % Li2O from 192 metres;
- AL-16-011 (West zone) - 46 metres @ 1.26 % Li2O from 135 metres including, 24 metres @ 1.62 % Li2O from 137 metres;
- AL-16-012 (East zone) - 47 metres @ 1.05 % Li2O from 161 metres including, 27 metres @ 1.31 % Li2O from 167 metres;
- AL-16-013 (West zone deep) - 24 metres @ 1.25 % Li2O from 184 metres and 8 metres @ 0.91 % Li2O from 216 metres;
- AL-16-014 (East zone) - 45 metres @ 1.08 % Li2O from 148 metres including, 8 metres @ 1.36 % Li2O from 149 metres and 18 metres @ 1.34 % Li2O from 171 metres;
- AL-16-015 (West zone, 50 metres step-back of hole AL-16-013) - 20 metres @ 1.32 % Li2O from 242 metres including, 11 metres @ 1.61 % Li2O from 248 metres;
- AL-16-016 (Middle of Gap Zone) - 28 metres @ 1.20 % Li2O from 158 metres including, 18 metres @ 1.39 % Li2O from 162 metres;
- AL-16-017 (West Zone Deep) - 45 metres @ 1.28 % Li2O from 190 metres including, 23 metres @ 1.77 % Li2O from 190 metres; and
- AL-16-018 (West edge of Gap Zone) - 10 metres @ 1.20 % Li2O from 218 metres including, 6 metres @ 1.48 % Li2O from 219 metres and two upper intervals of 4 m @ 0.99 % Li2O from 197 metres and 7 m @ 0.95 % Li2O from 206 metres.
The lithium mineralisation at Authier project is related to multiple pulses of spodumene bearing quartz-feldspar pegmatite. Higher lithium grades are related with high concentrations of mid to coarse spodumene crystals (up to 4 cm long axis) in a mid to coarse grained pegmatite facies.
Overall Summary of the Drilling Program
The drilling program has successfully achieved the overall objective, including:
- Increasing the size of the potential resource and improving confidence in the JORC Mineral Resource categories;
- Gaining a deeper understanding of the upside resource potential;
- Demonstrating the potential for improving the grade of the overall resource; and
- Improving the knowledge of the geotechnical conditions for incorporation into the Pre-Feasibility Study.
The following points summarise the outcome of each of the holes drilled during the program:
- Holes 01, 02, 06 and 07 have successfully tested the geometry of the Authier pegmatite at shallow levels in the eastern and central sectors in order to upgrade the resource categories from indicated to measured;
- Hole 16 has intersected a thick zone of spodumene mineralisation in the gap zone, between eastern and western zones of main pegmatite. This area which was previously interpreted not to contain any mineralisation and will provide a meaningful increase in the JORC resource;
- Holes 03, 04, 05, 08, 10, 12 and 14 have extended the lithium mineralisation in the eastern sector of main Authier pegmatite beyond 200 metres of vertical depth;
- Hole 10 intercepted a new pegmatite at shallow levels between 15 to 22 metres downhole depth, not visible from surface, located 400 metres north of main Authier pegmatite. Such pegmatite returned high grade lithium mineralisation (see "High-grade Mineralisation in the New Pegmatite Discovered at Authier", 08 November 2016); and
- Holes 09, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 18 have extended the lithium mineralisation in the western sector of the main Authier pegmatite beyond 200 metres of vertical depth.
A new JORC Resource incorporating all the new assay results is being prepared and will be incorporated into the Pre-Feasibility Study which is underway. The mineralisation remains open in all directions. Follow up drilling is being planned for early 2017 with the objectives, including:
- Defining the mineralised boundaries and lifting the resource categories in the western sector that was not accessible during the summer months;
- Testing for mineralisation in the east and west strike extensions; and
- Assessing the resource potential of the new northern pegmatite. Any new mineralisation within the new pegmatite is likely to fall within the main Authier open-cut pit shell. Any new resources will significantly improve the waste to ore ratio in a future operation.
To view tables and figures, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/1KZ2D7K1
About Sayona Mining Limited
Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is a North American lithium producer with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. In Quebec, Sayona's assets comprise North American Lithium together with the Authier Lithium Project and its emerging Tansim Lithium Project, supported by a strategic partnership with American lithium developer Piedmont Lithium Inc. (ASX:PLL). Sayona also holds a 60% stake in the Moblan Lithium Project in northern Quebec.
In Western Australia, the Company holds a large tenement portfolio in the Pilbara region
prospective for gold and lithium. Sayona is exploring for Hemi-style gold targets in the world-class Pilbara region, while its lithium projects include Company-owned leases and those subject to a joint venture with Morella Corporation (ASX:1MC).
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