Oceana Lithium Limited advised it is collaborating in a joint research program with the Centre for Exploration Targeting, University of Western Australia covering the North Arunta pegmatite province in the Northern Territory. The program will be co-funded by Oceana, Core Lithium Limited, Australasian Metals Limited, Askari Minerals Limited and Lithium Springs Limited, all of which have been actively exploring for lithium-related minerals in the North Arunta. Various rare metal pegmatite fields have been identified in the highly prospective North Arunta pegmatite province, which includes the Company's Napperby Lithium Project.

Many of these are interpreted to be Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum pegmatites, a type of rare-element pegmatite that hosts world-class lithium and tantalum deposits in Western Australia such as Greenbushes, Pilgangoora, and Wodgina. Other pegmatites, such as those associated with rare earth elements, may also be present. Until now, there has been a dearth of systematic structural and petrogenetic constraints on the Arunta rare metal pegmatite province, which as a consequence has hindered systematic, cost-effective exploration targeting using modern geochemical, hyperspectral and mineralogical tools.

The joint research program will address this issue by first defining a robust litho- chemical mineralisation framework for rare metal pegmatites in the Arunta Province providing the context for available structural constraints. Detailed mineralogical and mineral chemistry investigations on Li-bearing and pathfinder minerals will be undertaken, allowing for cost-effective exploration targeting for granite hosted lithium, tantalum and potentially rare earth elements.