NEW AGE EXPLORATION LIMITED New Age Exploration announced it has commenced a second phase of soil sampling program at its extensive Central Pilbara Gold-Lithium Projects in Western Australia to be geochemically analysed using Labwest's UltraFine+ methodology. Further UltraFine+ Geochemical soil sampling was recommended to infill and extend the high priority targets prior to drilling. This is a significant step forward in the progress of the company and the Pilbara portfolio.
A further 1,200 samples are to be collected in early September across the Bullock Well and Quartz Hill project areas. These will be submitted for assay in addition to 1,000 samples collected in the phase one soil sampling program, with the results used to assess the interpreted margin of the fertile granite suites associated with LCT pegmatites. High priority targets will be refined and prioritised in the lead up to a planned drilling programme to commence following all required approvals.
The entire Central Pilbara projects are centred over the highly prospective yet under-explored Mallina - Whim Creek Basin of the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, in close proximity to the World Class Wodgina and, Pilgangoora Lithium Mining Operations and the recent Andover Lithium discovery ((Pilbara Minerals, and Azure Minerals respectively). Strong lithium-pegmatite anomalies have been identified from soil sampling and detailed analysis at Quartz Hill and Bullock Well Projects. Notably, the project is adjacent to the tenure of Golden State Minerals, where they have recently made the significant discovery of lithium at the Nomad prospect.
To further enhance the drilling strategy at Brahman, ongoing evaluation of previous drilling and geophysical targets has been conducted. This evaluation will assist with determining the optimal drill locations. Pending the completion of the necessary Programme of Works (POW) and land access approvals, drilling operations will be included with the planned drill program on high-priority targets within the Central Pilbara region.
Background. A total of 5,300 soil samples were collected on a 200m x 200m grid, and submitted to LabWest, Perth for multi-element UltraFine+ analyses to assess the lithium and gold prospectivity over a number of target areas selected on the basis of detailed geophysics and conceptual geology. Final interpretation of the results was completed of the selected areas by the CSIRO's Business Unit of Mineral Resources as part of NAE's key sponsorship role in the CSIRO's UltraFine+ NextGen Analytics Project, and by NAE's consulting geochemist Sugden Geoscience.
