St George Mining Limited announced that drilling has commenced at its Mt Alexander Project to test below numerous widespread pegmatite dykes, which are interpreted as highly prospective for lithium mineralisation. In total, 20 RC holes for approximately 2,000m are planned as an initial test down-dip from outcropping pegmatites at the Jailbreak Prospect. In addition, approximately 1,500m of diamond drilling is planned to test new nickel targets generated by recent electromagnetic (EM) and seismic surveys in the Manta Prospect area, then follow up lithium targets in the Jailbreak Prospect area. Additional RC and diamond drilling will be implemented pending a review of drill results.
The downhole depths of RC drill holes for lithium targets will range between 60m and 150m. Deeper holes at the lithium targets will be completed by the diamond rig, with drill core providing a clearer picture of the mineralogy and zonation of the lithium mineral system. Laboratory assays are expected to be progressively available within four to five weeks. The geological setting of the pegmatites mapped at Mt Alexander is interpreted to be similar to the
significant pegmatite-hosted lithium discovery made by Red Dirt at its Mt Ida Project, approximately 15km south of Mt Alexander. The geochemsitry of rock chip samples from the pegmatites at Mt Alexander indicates fertility for
lithium, caesium and tanatalum (LCT) pegmatites. Assays for rock chips samples from the Jailbreak Prospect returned up to 2.7% Li20, 715ppm Cs, 166ppm Ta2O5 and 1.37% Rb. Drilling is designed to test below these prospective pegmatites to confirm the continuity and thickness of the pegmatites below surface. Deeper diamond drill holes will be completed to acquire drill core that can provide more detailed data on orientation and mineral zonation within the pegmatites. The province around Mt Ida is emerging as a new lithium province following the significant high- grade lithium discovery by Red Dirt at its Mt Ida Project in September 2021. In addition to St George and Red Dirt, significant exploration is underway in this region by: Zenith Minerals in joint venture with EV Metals plc - see ASX Releases by Zenith dated 23 May 2022 - New Lithium Exploration Project Secured and 11 October 2022 - Zenith Commences Lithium Drilling; Hawthorn Resources in joint venture with Hancock Prospecting; Hancock executes agreement for nickel, lithium and copper at Mt Bevan Project. The lithium prospectivity of this region is interpreted to be associated with the large Copperfield Granite. The prospective LCT pegmatite corridor is interpreted between the contact with the Copperfield Granite in the east and the Ida Fault in the west.