First Lithium keeps the Blakala momentum going with its third hole intersecting thick pegmatites

• First Lithium’s third hole hits three pegmatite intersections of 15.3m, 53.25m and 5m
• Results show drilling is exploring right areas within strike zone
• Drilling only just started with just 362.7m of planned 6,000m program drilled to date

Special Report: First Lithium’s third hole at the Blakala prospect has hit three pegmatite intersections, providing confidence that the drill program is exploring the correct locations within the strike zone.

It follows on from the first diamond hole returning two pegmatites of 4.58m and 5.05m while the second struck a thick 112.8m pegmatite with significant spodumene mineralisation seen throughout the intersections that indicated First Lithium’s (ASX:FL1) belief in the prospectivity of Blakala is warranted.

Blakala sits within the company’s Gouna permit in Mali and was first identified as having lithium bearing spodumene in the 1960s by Russian geologists.

Importantly, it is one of two Tier 1 priority lithium targets in the country ranked by CSA Global in 2008 – the other being Leo Lithium’s 211Mt Goulamina joint venture project with Ganfeng.

Both prospects have clear similarities making Blakala a possible geological mirror of Goulamina.

Diamond is proving Blakala’s value

The third diamond hole has intersected pegmatites with thicknesses of 15.3m from a down-hole depth of 2.7m, 53.25m from 39m and 5m from 94.65m.

Notably – and in common with the second hole – the majority of the pegmatite intersections are well mineralised with spodumene.

Additionally, surface trenching between the second and third holes has uncovered the two larger pegmatites.

Spodumene mineralisation has also been observed in pegmatite outcrops.

To date, FLI has completed just 362.7m of the planned 6,000m diamond drill program, meaning there’s plenty of scope for further pegmatite intersections.

Double shift drilling is taking place with three teams conducting work on the drill rig, which operates 24 hours a day.

“Identifying a further pegmatite of 53.25m provides confidence the drilling program is exploring the correct locations within the strike zone,” managing director Venkat Padala said.

“The 112.8m of pegmatite identified in BDFS02 has now been well complemented with a further significant intersection. The drilling and programming teams are buoyed by the early pegmatite finds.”

This article was developed in collaboration with First Lithium, 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.

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