Auroch Minerals Limited announced assay results from pegmatite rock chip samples taken at the Kangaroo Hills Lithium Project (KHLP) in Western Australia. Assay results of these samples have exceeded expectations with 2.37% Li2O (ND28060) and 0.17% Li2O (ND28059) being returned. Significantly, the mineralised outcrops are located over 600m south-east of drill hole NPRC084 where lithium (Li) mineralisation was first observed at KHLP (6m @ 1.38% Li2O from 198m) in November 2022, potentially expanding the mineralised footprint of the project.

The samples are located in the centre of a cluster of outcropping pegmatites making this area a high priority drill target. Following the return of the laboratory assay results the Li bearing minerals were identified in rock chips using a SciAps portable LIBS analyser. All elevated Li samples are now undergoing Semi Quantitative X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis to confirm mineralogy.

Mapping and rock chip sampling was completed in December 2022 and identified numerous outcropping pegmatites. The purpose of the programme was to gain sufficient geochemical data to identify pathfinder elements and to understand fractionation trends and prospectivity of the pegmatites present at surface. While it was anticipated that Lithium -Caesium -Tantalum (LCT) mineralisation could be present, it was expected to be low in grade due to the weathered nature of the outcrops, therefore it was exciting to discover high grade Li within outcrop.

In addition to the mineralised outcrops, assays returned anomalous Caesium, Tantalum and Tin, all of which are considered pathfinder minerals of LCT pegmatites. The distribution of these anomalies, expand the prospectivity of the project area. The larger geochemical assay suite has been used to identify relative fractionation trends which will be tested in the next reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme which will commence this month.

The first phase RC drilling programme will test three high priority drill targets, which the Company plans to undertake later this month.