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Core Lithium has more than doubled a previously reported high-grade lithium intersection at its Blackbeard prospect in the Northern Territory, strengthening its assessment of the deposit’s potential to support future production at Finniss.
Final assays returned 74m at 1.32 per cent lithium oxide (Li₂O) from 209m, extending a partial result of 29m at 1.35 per cent Li₂O reported in October.
The result is the second-longest mineralised intersection recorded at Blackbeard to date, adding to Core’s understanding of a lithium-bearing system located less than 20km from its existing Finniss processing plant.
Core Lithium managing director Paul Brown said the latest drilling had reinforced the company’s confidence in Blackbeard.
“The results from NMRD108 are an excellent outcome, more than doubling the partial intersection we reported earlier and delivering 74 metres of high-grade mineralisation,” he said.
“Together with NMRD104, this gives us two of the thickest intersections recorded at Blackbeard to date and continues to build our confidence in the scale of this pegmatite system, located less than 20km from our Finniss processing plant.”
Another drill hole, located approximately 90m west-northwest of the latest intersection, returned 76.7m at 0.77 per cent Li₂O, including 21.7m at 1.28 per cent Li₂O.
The results come as Core pursues additional lithium resources to extend the mine life of its Finniss operation and assess future production opportunities.
Blackbeard’s proximity to the existing processing plant and established infrastructure could support future development options if further exploration establishes sufficient resources.
Core is also assessing opportunities to increase plant throughput beyond its current 1.2-million-tonne-per-annum base case, with existing crushing capacity exceeding two million tonnes annually.
The company is undertaking a staged 12,150m diamond drilling program at Blackbeard to better define the mineralised system, with further assay results expected as exploration progresses.
Brown said further work would be needed to establish the prospect’s potential scale.
“These latest results build on the strong start to the drilling program and continue to highlight the potential significance of Blackbeard,” he said.
“While there is still more work to do, each new round of drilling is improving our understanding of the mineralised system and its potential scale, with drilling ongoing and further assays to come.”
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