Allkem Limited has issued an update on the exploration and resource definition drilling program at its James Bay Project in Quebec, Canada.
According to Allkem, it discovered an additional swarm of spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes located northwest of known mineralisation.
In its update, the company said infill and delineation drilling in the eastern portion of the deposit has confirmed both the continuity and lithium grade of the spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes.
The diamond drilling program consisted of infill and delineation drilling within the eastern part of the deposit at depth to satisfy the drill spacing required for the indicated category of mineral resources.
It also supported exploration drilling efforts targeting newly identified outcropping pegmatites to the east of the deposit, as well as systematic step-out drilling to the northwest of the known extents of the deposit, targeting the extension of the deformation corridor that hosts the deposit.
The company’s drill core observations suggest that lithia mineralisation is hosted predominantly within coarse-grained, green spodumene, with grain sizes varying between 0.5 cm and 40 cm.
Allkem said that following the release of final assays, it tends to update the James Bay Mineral Resource Estimate to incorporate all new drilling results.
It added that work is already underway to update the geological model in preparation for the receipt of final assays.
Additional site activities, including trials of downhole televiewer technology and mineralogical studies, are being planned to better understand the geometry of the pegmatites discovered in the northwest sector of the site.
Allkem Managing Director and CEO Martin Perez de Solay said the significant grade and thickness shown in the results are outstanding, and added that the new zone of mineralisation to the northwest of the current resource provides scope for potential additions to resources and reserves as the company continues drilling efforts across the area.
