Mining entity reveals lithium, tantalum deposits MRE

PREMIER African Minerals has announced a substantial mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 23 percent in lithium resources and a 17 percent increase in tantalum compared to previous estimates.

Additionally, the mining entity, which has operations at Fort Rixon Lithium Mine in Matabeleland South Province, also revealed an enhancement in the quality of the lithium ore.

The deposit is estimated to contain over 131 000 tonnes of lithium oxide (Li2O) and this could translate to about 2,2 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate, a lithium-rich material used in battery production, when processed. The deposit also contains approximately 1,2 million kilogrammes of tantalum, a rare metal essential for electronic components.

The MRE is concerned only with the spodumene and tantalum that are contained in the deposit and with those areas of the Zulu tenements that are expected to be mined and processed through the present plant only. This excludes the greater EPO area, the firm said.

Premier chief executive officer, Mr George Roach, said the increases are attributable to several reasons that include the fact that mining development and grade control indicates in situ grade estimates are understating the actual grades being mined, an adjustment in ore body density, and additional data now included. The updated MRE has been prepared on a depleted basis following mining conducted to date.

“It should be noted that with ongoing mining activities, further sections of the ore body are expected to be reclassified into a measured category that will be supported by close-spaced in pit grade control assessments from time to time,” said Mr Roach.

“It is worth noting that this MRE is based on an assumed 80 percent of the total Li2O grade of the ore body being attributable to the SQI dominant style of mineralisation, which the company believes is conservative and ongoing analysis of the mineral assemblage may support an increase in this percentage with potential increases in the contained spodumene.

“We have previously set out our expectation that Zulu is likely to produce spodumene concentrates with low iron and higher spodumene concentrate grades,” he added.

The update notes that the MRE is based on assay results from 236 surface drill holes totalling 46 355 metres, 856 grade control holes totalling 5 640m and 123 surface trenches totalling 4 055m between September 2016 and December last year.

Zulu comprises 14 mineral claims covering a surface area of 3,5km² that are contained within a larger Exclusive Prospecting Order (EPO), and which are prospective for tantalum and lithium mineralisation.

To date, three principal lithium bearing minerals, spodumene, petalite and lepidolite have been identified in the Zulu pegmatites.

Lithium is recovered from minerals such as spodumene, petalite and lepidolite as well as lithium-rich brines and is used in a range of products such as ceramics, glass, batteries and pharmaceuticals.