Switch Metals (AIM:SWT) will begin an approximately 2,500-metre maiden scout drilling programme at its Issia project in Côte d'Ivoire to test two high-priority hard-rock pegmatite targets, Kabore (spodumene) and Zraty (tantalum), and has issued equity to a consultant.
The Company, which focuses on battery and technology metals in Côte d'Ivoire, detailed that the programme comprises approximately 15 holes at Kabore (c.1,700m) and eight holes at Zraty (c.800m), with an expected average of 50-100m per hole.
Preparation and rig mobilisation is expected shortly, it added.
"Given the improvement in the lithium market and the scale of the anomaly defined at Kabore, we believe this is the right time to drill test Kabore and assess the system at depth," said Karl Akueson, CEO.
Kabore hosts a 20m x 10m spodumene exposure with whole‑rock assays to 2.56% Li2O and a newly defined 1.3km rubidium soil anomaly, while Zraty has trench samples up to 1,230 ppm Ta2O5.
Work on a maiden tantalum mineral resource estimate for shallow alluvial, eluvial and drainage targets at Issia is progressing in parallel and initial assay batches are expected to be returned in the coming weeks.
