Bigger deeper pegmatites tell a tantalising story at Charger’s Medcalf lithium prospect ahead of final assays

Charger Metals has expanded the potential of its Medcalf lithium project, with a maiden drilling program showing the spodumene rich pegmatites which outcrop at the discovery spread further and deeper than previously known.

A 7199m, 41 hole maiden RC program has now been completed, with Charger Metals (ASX:CHR) eagerly awaiting the results of assays.

But preparations are already underway for deeper follow up drilling.

Having tested targets over a length of 700m at surface and up to 280m down dip of spodumene bearing pegmatite outcrops in the drilling program, Charger has increased the known extend of pegmatite swarm, which occur in a 100m zone.

Even before assays have arrived for the final stages of the program, which includes 24 RC holes drilled early this year, Charger has already shown these extend under transported cover and at depth.

“With the drilling programme returning multiple intersections of spodumene-pegmatites, the Company’s geologists are planning deeper core holes designed to expand the known mineralisation to a greater depth,” Charger MD David Crook said.

“Assays from holes drilled in late 2022 included high-grade lithium intersections from surface down to a vertical depth of at least 210m.

“This year’s drilling has increased the known extent of the spodumene-pegmatites which are still open along strike and at depth.”

Medcalf magic

Located some 450km east of Perth, Medcalf is quickly emerging as a potential spodumene discovery of note in the dominant WA lithium sector.

The state delivers around half of the world’s lithium carbonate equivalent tonnes from its hard rock mines, which will soon include the massive nearby Earl Grey deposit owned by Chile’s SQM and Australian industrial giant Wesfarmers.

Charger confirmed the discovery of high grade spodumene at Medcalf in results from last year’s portion of the drilling program, released to the ASX in February.

Results included multiple stacked spodumene pegmatites that returned assays of up to 5m grading 2.55% Li2O from a down-hole depth of 68m including a higher grade zone of 2m at 4.19% Li2O.

That, albeit thinner intercept, is not far off the 6% spodumene concentrate that gets shipped regularly from Australia.

The first samples from the 2023 portion of the campaign were submitted to a lab in mid-February with an expected seven week turnaround time.

Meanwhile, Charger will use down hole surveys to confirm the dip and physical properties of individual pegmatites, and develop a 3D model to aid the next phase of deeper core drilling.

In preparation for core drilling, extensional heritage and flora surveys have been initiated, and a water management plan implemented.

Soil geochemistry and mapping will be undertaken at the aforementioned Medcalf and recently acquired Mt Day prospect.

Charger also boasts a 70% interest in the Bynoe lithium  project near Darwin where it is literally enclosed by Core Lithium’s producing Finniss Lithium Project.

Numerous drill ready lithium targets have been identified across two large LCT pegmatite target zones, including the 8km long Megabucks and 3.5km 7-Up, with a maiden drill programme fully approved for up to 316 holes.

This article was developed in collaboration with Charger Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

The post Bigger deeper pegmatites tell a tantalising story at Charger’s Medcalf lithium prospect ahead of final assays appeared first on Stockhead.

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