Australian miner says ‘disappointed with initial results’ from Zimbabwe lithium projects

By Agencies

Australian-based exploration and development company, MetalsGrove Mining Ltd, has fielded results from initial geological mapping and surface sampling at the company’s projects in Zimbabwe.

In a recent statement, the company said the consensus is that further investigation is warranted, and a site visit has been scheduled for June to continue its exploration efforts.

The focus will be on conducting more detailed geological mapping and including pathfinder elements in the assay suite to better understand the potential lithium mineralisation.

MetalsGrove  owns the Arcturas Lithium Project (ALP) and Beatrice Lithium Project (BLP) in Zimbabwe.

Managing director Lijun Yang said: “The final report and assay results from the initial surface mapping and sampling program fell short of the company’s expectations.

“Assay results from identified pegmatites within the Arcturas Project are barren in lithium.

“Samples collected from the Beatrice Project showed encouraging lithium grades with lepidolite observed, but only one of these samples, grading 0.88% Li2O, was collected from within MetalsGrove’s granted tenements.

“However, in the absence of detailed geological observations, and with no pathfinder elements such as tantalum, potassium and rubidium included in the assay suite, the company, while disappointed with the initial results, considers that further investigation is warranted.

“The company is planning further work on these projects, including a site visit in June.”

The projects, close to Harare, were acquired in December by the previous management team and encompass six new lithium claims covering 510 hectares, with one claim still in application.

The Arcturas region, around 15 kilometres west of the Arcadia Lithium Mine, known as one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium resources, showed disappointing results.

Conversely, the Beatrice region, near the Joyce Gold Mine and within a well-known pegmatite zone mineralised in lithium-caesium-tantalum, yielded more promising results.