Mt York Spodumene (Lithium) Exploration
Spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been discovered during routine earth-moving activities at the ‘Lucky Sump’ Prospect in very close proximity to the Mt York Gold Project. Rock samples collected from Lucky Sump recorded 1.91%, 1.56% and 0.58% Li2O. Their mineralogy was verified to contain spodumene. The results indicate that the geology of the Lucky Sump area sits within a ‘fertile zone’ where late-stage pegmatite intrusions contain lithium in the form of spodumene – something that is not only rare in economic quantities in Western Australia, but is also very valuable. The Lucky Sump Prospect is interpreted to contain a swarm of northeast-striking pegmatites that can only be seen and inferred from high-resolution processed aerial images and their spatial interpretation is recorded on the figures below.
Spodumene is lithium pyroxene and is a highly sought after critical raw material used in the manufacture of rechargeable Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries.
Lucky Sump is only 3 kilometres to the south from the world-class Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Mine (Pilbara Minerals Ltd) and 30km east-north-east from the large Wodgina Lithium-Tantalum Mine of Mineral Resources Ltd.
Project evaluation will begin with drill testing of the dyke swarm and assessment of the lithium (and tantalum) grades determined.
Kairos also holds tenure to other lithium projects in the Pilbara, notably the Wodgina Project and Lalla Rookh where assessment for lithium potential is on-going, and at the Black Cat Prospect at Roe Hills in the newly discovery Manna District east of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields.
Figure 2. Location of the Lucky Sump Prospect in relation to Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Mine and Mineral Resources’ Wodgina Mine.
Figure 3. Lucky Sump Prospect location in relation to Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora’s Lithium-Tantalum Mine and the Mt York Gold Project (red polygon is the Main Trend gold mineralisation).
Figure 4. Lucky Sump Prospect showing planned drill holes targeting Lucky Sump spodumene-bearing pegmatites (red dots) and those targeting resource extensions at the Mt York Gold Project (yellow dots). The pegmatites are interpreted to strike to the northeast and potentially cut the Mt York Gold Deposit and stratigraphy at right angles.
