Andrada Mining (AIM:ATM) reported assay results on Tuesday for a fifth batch of diamond drill holes from its Lithium Ridge project in Namibia, with several intercepts exceeding 1.5% Li2O.
The results confirm substantial down-dip continuity and structural thickening of the targeted pegmatite swarms, alongside pervasive tin and tantalum mineralisation within the higher-grade sub-intervals.
"This fifth batch of results demonstrates the presence of high-grade intersections confirming that we are still uncovering the full potential of the Lithium Ridge licence," said Anthony Viljoen, chief executive, adding that the newly identified pegmatites beyond the main mineralised trend "highlight the upside potential that remains to be explored across the licence."
The batch covers 23 of 143 holes drilled under the Stage 1 earn-in programme with SQM, with mineralisation confirmed from near surface to depths of up to 275 metres.
Six holes, LRD058, LRD065, LRD076, LRD082, LRD095 and LRD101, either missed significant pegmatite or fell below the company's reporting cut-off of 0.25% Li2O, 0.1% tin or 99 parts per million tantalum, data Andrada said will help define the spatial limits of the mineralised system for its 3D geological model.
Spodumene remains the primary lithium-bearing mineral identified in the intersections, consistent with prior batches, and the company said the coincident tin and tantalum mineralisation underscores the polymetallic nature of the pegmatites.
Lithium Ridge is being advanced under an earn-in partnership with SQM International, and forms part of Andrada's wider strategy of pairing lithium exploration with its existing tin production at the Uis Mine, where the company recently signed NAD98m in loan facilities to fund an ore-sorting expansion.
Drill details
Drill hole LRD045 returned 34.90 metres at 1.02% Li2O from 184.42 metres to 219.32 metres, including 6.22 metres at 1.67% Li2O.
Hole LRD060 intersected 10.66 metres at 1.13% Li2O from near surface, including 4.79 metres at 2.04% Li2O, while LRD042 returned 9.03 metres at 1.64% Li2O, including 5.44 metres at 1.84% Li2O.
LRD066 added 11.35 metres at 1.16% Li2O, including 4.64 metres at 1.79% Li2O.
Localised tin and tantalum values included 0.25 metres at 1.03% tin and 227 parts per million tantalum in hole LRD061, 0.95 metres at 0.57% tin in LRD074, and 0.36 metres at 604 parts per million tantalum in LRD045.
Holes LRD064, LRD066 and LRD072 confirmed high-grade mineralisation within a newly identified pegmatite that sits outside the main Lithium Ridge trendline, which the company said points to further exploration upside across the licence.