San Domingo Pegmatite District Drilling Results

RNS Number : 2328U

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd

27 March 2023

 

27 March 2023

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd.

San Domingo Pegmatite District Drilling Results Continue to Demonstrate High Grade Intersections of Mineralised Lithium Pegmatites in Arizona

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd. (AIM:BHL, TSXV:BHLI, OTCQB:BHLIF) ("Bradda Head", "Bradda", "BHL" or the "Company"), the North America-focused lithium development company, is pleased to announce further significant intercepts of high grade lithium bearing minerals at multiple locations from the second set of assay results from its maiden diamond core drilling programme at the Company's 23km² San Domingo pegmatite district in Arizona. This is a continuation of the first extensive drilling campaign undertaken at San Domingo since the 1950's and is the maiden programme under BHL. Lithium bearing minerals (spodumene and some lepidolite) have been identified in c.60% of the total holes completed and importantly the programme has only tested just over 1% of the 23km² that Bradda holds in Arizona.

Highlights from next set of assays include:

Central Claims

·   9.54m @ 1.85% Li₂O, 3.02m @1.49% Li₂O, and 2.90m @ 3.03% Li₂O in SD-DH23-037

·   7.35m @ 0.68% Li₂O, 4.79m @ 0.87% Li₂O, 3.20m @ 1.22% Li₂O, and 3.21m @ 0.75% Li₂O in SD-DH23-036

·   9.85m @ 0.86% Li₂O in SD-DH23-034

·   4.02m @ 1.27% Li₂O in SD-DH23-035

Northern Claims

·   3.75m @ 2.37% Li₂O, 0.85m @ 2.44% Li₂O, 1.10m @ 0.82% Li₂O, and 0.67m @ 1.77% Li₂O in SD-DH22-025

·   3.35m @ 2.23% Li₂O in SD-DH22-018

·   3.20m @ 1.70% Li₂O, 1.89m @ 2.89% Li₂O, and 2.75m @ 0.67% Li₂O in SD-DH22-019

See maps below for locations of Northern and Central claim block drill holes as well as cross-sections of results so far received; including cross-section of Morningstar follow-up target modelled from historical drill data.

Summary:

·   Bradda Head commenced a first pass phased 7,000m diamond core drilling programme at its San Domingo lithium pegmatite district in Arizona in Q3 2022. This programme is now completed (see figures 2 and 3 below).

·   Out of the 7,000m planned, 7,300m (47 holes completed) have been drilled with positive results demonstrating high-grade intersections, as set out in the table below (Table 1). This scout drilling programme was completed on 10 March, of which, assays for 38 of the holes have been received.

·   The first set of assays released in February (see PR dated 06 February 2023) demonstrated high-grade visible lithium bearing intervals with the best result intersected to date of 31.85 meters at 1.60% Li₂O[1]in drill hole SD22-024.

·   This set of assays not only demonstrate  that we have significant intersections of pegmatites with visible lithium minerals (spodumene and some lepidolite) in the Northern Claim blocks (see Figures 4 and 5) but also that BHL has identified intersections of up to 20.0m (Lower Jumbo and Jumbo see figures 6, 7 and 8) of potential lithium bearing intersections at the Central Claim blocks, indicating the presence of a potential 9km mineralised trend.

·   Large spodumene crystals with scattered lepidolite are observed in all 6 holes drilled on the Jumbo target, with assays pending for the last hole (SD-DH23-038a). Results from Jumbo include 9.54m @ 1.85% Li₂O in SD-DH23-037 and 4.02m @ 1.27% Li₂O in SD-DH23-035 both at shallow depths.

·   This first programme has been focussed on shallow drilling to help understand the structural controls at San Domingo. These shallow intersections help us interpret what may be present at greater depth similar to what is seen in comparable LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) systems in Australia.

·   High-grade intersections of lithium mineralisation have been detected at shallow depths (from surface in some holes) in multiple locations across an area in the Northern Claim block and Central Claim block at San Domingo (see figures 4 and 6).

·   Indications so far, demonstrate the potential for deeper feeder systems as seen in other LCT systems.

·   Based on the success of Phase 1 at the Northern Claim block (see Figure 2) as highlighted by the results noted above, Bradda Head commenced Phase 2 (see Figure 3) at the Central Claim block and a detailed soil survey over its 23km² land package (see PR dated 21 November 2022).

·   The wider soil survey programme was completed in late February (assays pending) and along with an ongoing structural mapping programme, will be used to more accurately and efficiently define Phase 3 drill programme targets (due to start no later than H2 2023). This will build on the  Phase 1 and 2 results and interpretation, and will explore the potential at the c.99% of our claims at San Domingo that remain untested.

·   North American assay laboratories are currently running at capacity and as a consequence turnaround times on assay reporting are excessive, +8 -12 weeks on occasions, as well as being subject to last minute delays and disruption. , Bradda anticipates all drill hole and soil sample results to be received by the end of H1 2023.

·   An initial shallow Open Pit Mining approach therefore seems the logical route to follow, before any deeper workings would be developed.

·   Assay results for the final c.20% of our 47 completed holes are pending and will be reported when received.

 

Charles FitzRoy, CEO of Bradda Head Lithium, commented:

"These results are highly encouraging and set the scene for what we believe has the potential to define a world class lithium pegmatite district in Arizona, near vital infrastructure and battery end-users within the US and the wider developing North American battery hub. The US is investing US$135bn in its EV and critical minerals supply chain, all Bradda's assets are located in the US for the US market, these results are therefore extremely supportive of our business model. ESG is front and centre in our approach and we are working to develop these assets with as low a carbon footprint as possible.

"This next set of results from this first drill programme at San Domingo highlights further a distinct district scale potential with multiple areas showing promising results and high-grade lithium intersections with visible spodumene. As a result, Bradda is in the process of designing a follow-up drilling programme in H2 of this year aimed at testing additional ground within the much wider 23km² of lithium pegmatite claims and leases held in Arizona. Funds are already in place for this work, and ongoing exploration work by our geologists suggests that we have only just scratched the surface of what we have at San Domingo with just over 1% of the area tested from this first programme. We look forward to sharing further developments of this exciting project.

"As well as progressing its pegmatite projects, Bradda Head recently announced commencement of drilling at its Basin Project and a 2^nd resource update in less than 12 months at its lithium in clay Basin project in Arizona. The drill programme that has just commenced, we believe, will likely lead to further resource growth at our flagship clay asset. With almost 0.4Mt of LCE already in compliant resources Bradda Head now has the largest publicly announced lithium resource in Arizona and 2023 is expected to be yet another resource growth year for the Company.

"The success of our current programmes at our San Domingo Pegmatite district, and also at our Lithium in Clay Basin Project, both located in Arizona, USA, continue to highlight the risk diversification approach followed by Bradda that separates us from many of our peers in the 'Lithium' space."

Figure 1: San Domingo Overview map.

Figure 2: Phase 1 - Northern Claim Block - Midnight Owl area

Figure 3: Phase 2 - Central Claim Block.

Figure 4: Northern Claim Block - Midnight Owl

Figure 5: North Claim Block - Midnight Owl cross-section

Figure 6: Central Claim Block - Jumbo and Lower Jumbo Overview

Figure 7: Jumbo cross-section

Figure 8: Lower Jumbo cross-section

Figure 9: Central Claim Block - North Morningstar Historical drill data

Figure 10: North Morningstar cross-section A-B using historical drill data

Figure 11: North Morningstar cross-section C-D using historical drill data

Table 1: Next set of San Domingo Phase 1 and 2 drill highlights so far.

Drill Hole	From_m	To_m	Int_m	Li2O %	Target Area
SD-DH22-004	0	3.29	3.29	1.01	Northern Claims
SD-DH22-017	217.44	217.93	0.49	4.95	Northern Claims
SD-DH22-018	3.96	7.32	3.35	2.23	Northern Claims
SD-DH22-019	7.77	10.97	3.20	1.70	Northern Claims
plus	39.01	40.90	1.89	2.89
and	68.58	68.95	0.37	2.77
and	70.16	70.47	0.30	1.54
and	89.43	89.98	0.55	1.13
and	116.89	119.63	2.75	0.67
SD-DH22-021	33.62	34.44	0.82	1.60	Northern Claims
SD-DH22-022	No significant Results				Northern Claims
SD-DH22-023	No significant Results				Northern Claims
SD-DH22-024	Previously Reported				Northern Claims
SD-DH23-025	42.28	46	3.75	2.37	Northern Claims
plus	54.86	55.72	0.85	2.44
and	89.58	90.68	1.10	0.82
and	92.57	93.24	0.67	1.77
SD-DH23-026	No significant values				Northern Claims
SD-DH23-027	No significant values				Northern Claims
SD-DH23-028	No significant values				Northern Claims
	Central Claims, DDH Results
SD-DH23-029	No significant values				Central Claims
SD-DH23-030	No significant values				Central Claims
SD-DH23-031	31.39	34.44	3.05	0.12	Central Claims
SD-DH23-032	No significant values				Central Claims
SD-DH23-034	14.23	24.08	9.85	0.86	Central Claims
SD-DH23-035	21.18	25.21	4.02	1.27	Central Claims
SD-DH23-036	8.99	16.34	7.35	0.68	Central Claims
with	8.99	13.78	4.79	0.87
and	30.94	34.14	3.20	1.22
plus	39.93	43.13	3.21	0.75
SD-DH23-037	26.79	29.81	3.02	1.49	Central Claims
with	46.24	55.78	9.54	1.85
and	52.88	55.78	2.90	3.03
SD-DH23-038	23.32	28.50	5.18	0.25	Central Claims
and	39.01	41.85	2.84	0.71

* All drill holes commenced at surface

Background

The Phase 1 and 2 7,000m diamond core drilling programme was designed to test the thesis that San Domingo is similar in structure to other well-known zoned pegmatites. The hundreds of pegmatites at San Domingo are hosted within a 1.6 Ba package of Proterozoic metamorphosed greenstone altered biotite-schists, chlorite-schists, amphibolites, and muscovite-schists. These largely sedimentary host rocks to pegmatites are established as critical to the development of lithium-bearing bodies worldwide.

Following on from SRK's 3D remote mapping of the Company's whole San Domingo claims, and Bradda's geological fieldwork, the Company increased its claims by 75% to cover 23km² in 2022, thereby strengthening its position in what Bradda believes has the potential to be a world class lithium district[2].

In 2022 Bradda completed a soil sampling survey covering c.11% or just under 3km² of its 23km² of pegmatite ground in Arizona, yielding highly prospective follow-up drill targets and a 3km trend on the area covered by the soil sampling (see PR dated 21 November2022) with the same elemental signatures that have been seen at known lithium mineralisation locations globally. The programme is now being expanded to cover the remaining 20km² not extensively soil sampled, with contractors from Rangefront Geological Services.

The soil geochemistry suggests that the pegmatite swarm is largely of the LCT (lithium-caesium-tantalum) mineralisation type, the most significant for lithium deposits and what is commonly associated with economic occurrences of lithium and tantalum. LCT-type pegmatites are generally found in the Western Australian pegmatite district, like Tianqi and Albemarle's joint-venture Greenbushes lithium mine. 

Initial results from the programme were released in February 2023 (see PR dated 06 February 2023) demonstrating the presence of multiple lithium bearing pegmatites. With the best result BHL has intersected 31.85 meters at 1.60% Li₂O in drill hole SD22-024 which includes 3.21 meters at 3.74% Li₂O.

Bradda is proactively doing everything commercially possible to sample our entire pegmatite district to ensure follow-up drill programmes hit more high-priority targets and to continue to keep intersecting further lithium bearing pegmatites. Bradda has a 10,000m drill programme planned to start in the second half of 2023, using data from the wider soil sampling, current drilling, SRK pegmatite mapping and the upcoming structural mapping programme.

Previous surface sampling at named outcropping pegmatites in the San Domingo claim blocks returned individual sample grade highlights of:

·     Midnight Owl: 1.44% Li₂O

·     Joker: 0.35% Li₂O

·     White Ridge: 2.49% Li₂O

·     Lower Jumbo: 1.62% Li₂O

·     Sunrise: 0.67% Li₂O

·     North Morning Star: 0.92% Li₂O

For further information please visit the Company's website: www.braddaheadltd.com

Qualified Person (BHL)

Joey Wilkins, B.Sc., P.Geo., is Head of North America at BHL and the Qualified Person who reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release. Mr. Wilkins is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a B.Sc. in Geology with more than 37 years of experience in mineral exploration and is a Qualified Person under the AIM Rules and a Qualified Person as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Core samples were split on site and bagged with sample tracking tags. Samples were shipped by the company directly to SGS Laboratories in Burnaby, B.C., Canada where SGS prepped then analysed all samples using sodium peroxide fusion combined ICP-AES and ICP-MS, method GE_ICM90A50. Certified standards were inserted into the sample stream and reviewed by the QP. Mr. Wilkins consents to the inclusion of the technical information in this release and context in which it appears.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU No. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Bradda Head Lithium Limited	[phone]
Charlie FitzRoy, CEO Denham Eke, Finance Director
Beaumont Cornish (Nomad) James Biddle/Roland Cornish	[phone]
Peterhouse (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Charles Goodfellow Duncan Vasey Lucy Williams
Shard Capital (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Damon Heath Isabella Pierre
Red Cloud (North American Broker)	[phone]
Joe Fars
Tavistock (PR)	+ 44 20 7920 3150
Nick Elwes Adam Baynes	[e-mail]

About Bradda Head Lithium Ltd.

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd. is a North America-focused lithium development group. The Company currently has interests in a variety of projects, the most advanced of which are in Central and Western Arizona: The Basin Project (Basin East Project, and the Basin West Project) and the Wikieup Project.

As previously announced in press release on 16 January 2022, the Basin East Project has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 21.2 Mt at an average grade of 891 ppm Li and 3.5% K for a total of 100 kt LCE and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 73.3 Mt at an average grade of 694 ppm Li and 3.2% K for a total of 271 kt LCE. In the rest of the Basin Project SRK has estimated an Exploration Target of between 300 to 1,300 Mt of material grading between 600 to 850 ppm Li which is equivalent to a range of between 1 to 6 Mt LCE.

The Group intends to continue to develop its three phase one projects in Arizona, whilst endeavouring to unlock value at its other prospective pegmatite and brine assets in Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. All of Bradda Head's licences are held on a 100% equity basis and are in close proximity to the required infrastructure.

Bradda Head is quoted on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker of BHL, on the TSX Ventures exchange with a ticker of BHLI, and on the US OTCQB market with a ticker of BHLIF.

Competent Person SRK

The Mineral Resource statement for the Basin Project was authored by Martin Pittuck, CEng, MIMMM, FGS who works for SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd, an independent mining consultancy. Mr. Pittuck has over 25 years' experience undertaking and reviewing Mineral Resource estimates and has worked on lithium clay estimates for over 5 years. Mr. Pittuck consents to the inclusion of the resources information in this press release and context in which they appear. Martin Pittuck is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

Reference is made to the report entitled "Independent technical report on the Basin and Wikieup Lithium clay projects, Arizona, USA" dated October 18, 2022 with an effective date of June 10, 2022  was prepared by Martin Pittuck, CEng, MIMMM, FGS, and Kirsty Reynolds MSci, PhD, FGS and reviewed by Nick Fox MSc, ACA, MIMMM. The Report is available for review on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and the Company's website www.braddaheadltd.com.

Technical Glossary

Li2O	Lithium Oxide
pegmatite	A pegmatite is an igneous rock showing a very coarse texture, with large interlocking crystals usually greater in size than 1 cm (0.4 in) and sometimes greater than 1 meter (3 ft). Most pegmatites are composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, having a similar silicic composition to granite. However, rarer intermediate composition and mafic pegmatites are known.
Spodumene	Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate, LiAl(SiO3)2, and is a source of lithium. Spodumene contains 3.73% lithium.
Lepidolite	Lepidolite is a lilac-gray or rose-colored member of the mica group of minerals with chemical formula K(Li,Al)3(Al,Si,Rb)4O10(F,OH)2.[2][3] It is the most abundant lithium-bearing mineral[4] and is a secondary source of this metal. It is the major source of the alkali metal rubidium. Lepidolite contains 3.58% lithium.

The formula to convert lithium in parts per million (PPM) to lithium oxide is to multiply Li ppm times 2.1527, then is reported in percent.

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts.  Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations.  Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, following:  The Company's objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory, governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; future operating and capital costs, timelines, permit timelines, the market and future price of and demand for lithium, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the local levels of government; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

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[1] Core length

[2] See PRs dated 06 February 2023, 21 November 2022, 13 September 2022, 08 August 2022, 18 July 2022, 21 June 2022 and 02 November 2021.

 

END

 

 

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