Marquee Resources Limited has completed a targeted field ground-truthing and rock-chip sampling program at the West Spargoville Project in Western Australia, collecting 49 samples to refine stacked pegmatites ahead of a drill redesign.

The work focused on a 1.5-kilometre by 1.5-kilometre target area containing multiple mapped quartz-feldspar pegmatites. The program refined the structural interpretation, showing that the pegmatites consistently trend northeast-southwest and dip steeply to the northwest.

Marquee holds a 75% interest in the lithium rights at the project, collaborating with joint venture partner Mineral Resources Limited. The Western Australia Government previously awarded the company an Exploration Incentive Scheme co-funded drilling grant of up to $220,000 to test the depth extents of spodumene pegmatites.

A key outcome is that historical reverse-circulation drilling within the target area was predominantly oriented toward the east. Because this historical geometry was oblique to the newly interpreted northeast-southwest strike and steep northwest dip, the company considers that previous programs may have incompletely tested parts of the system.

“The key point from this work is that the historical drilling does not, in our view, definitively test the lithium potential at West Spargoville. We have a substantial existing dataset, previously reported spodumene-bearing pegmatites and rock-chip assays up to 3.01% Li2O, and a refined structural model indicating that much of the historical RC drilling was oblique to the pegmatite geometry now interpreted.”

— Charles Thomas, Executive Chairman and Managing Director

Previously reported surface sampling within the target area returned multiple rock-chip assays above 1% Li2O, anchored by a peak result of 3.01% Li2O from sample 24WS0010. All 49 new rock-chip samples have been submitted to ALS for preparation and analysis. Laboratory analysis is currently underway, with no new assay results included in the latest announcement.

“With 49 samples now at ALS, we will integrate those results into the 3D model, finalise target ranking and redesign the next drill program.”

— Charles Thomas, Executive Chairman and Managing Director

Following the receipt and QAQC review of upcoming assay data, Marquee will integrate the new geochemistry into the existing database and three-dimensional model to re-rank priority pegmatites. The updated interpretation will guide the redesign of the next reverse-circulation drilling program at more appropriate orientations.

Activity across the wider district, exploration for lithium has ramped up wtih Ore Resources reporting diamond drilling results at the Kangaroo Hills project .

Read the full announcement: WEST SPARGOVILLE PROGRAM REFINES SPODUMENE PEGMATITE TARGETS