Marula Mining has completed the Phase 1 and 2 diamond drilling at its Blesberg lithium and tantalum mine in South Africa ahead of schedule.
Phase 2 included 21 diamond drill holes and 1,250 m of drilling.
About 400 samples from the Phase 2 drilling programme were sent to ALS Laboratories for assay and analysis.
The company’s geology team and experts are reviewing Phase 1 drilling sample assay results received from ALS.
Multiple high- and low-grade mineralisation zones were found in Phase 1 drill holes, it said.
Phase 1 drilling assay data are being used to generate a JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) to support an early 2024 Blesberg hard rock open pit mining plan.
Phase 1 drilling programme test findings and MRE are expected in January 2024.
It said Phase 2 drilling findings that are expected in the first quarter of 2024 will boost MRE confidence and confirm lithium mineralisation.
The approved economic cut-off grade is being incorporated into the final pit shell designs for open-pit mine design, thorough mine planning, financial forecasts, and economic analysis of the Blesberg hard rock open-pit mining plan.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
