Mobilization of Drilling & Ancillary Equipment
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Bradda Head Lithium Ltd (AIM:BHL, TSX-V:BHLI), the North America-focused lithium development group, is pleased to announce the mobilization of equipment to the Basin Project, Arizona to initiate Resource expansion drilling with a six-hole program designed to significantly expand the Company's lithium in clay Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE"). This follows the successful 2023 sonic drilling campaign which saw the "tripling" of BHL's Inferred and Indicated MRE at Basin. This six-hole program will build upon Bradda Head's 1.085MT Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) by drilling holes an additional 1.2 kilometers towards the north on newly permitted drill holes. The objective of this program is to add a minimum of 1.5MT LCE, surpassing the benchmark of 2.5MT LCE which will trigger the final US$3 million royalty payment from Lithium Royalty Company (LRC) to Bradda Head. The drilling program is anticipated to finish towards the end of April, 2024.
Program Summary:
- Six-hole core drilling program of approximately 8,800 feet (2,680m) planned
- Program anticipated to expand LCE from 1.085MT to >2.5MT
- Step-out drill holes at 500 to 700m spacing to maintain Inferred category of MRE
- One hole will be drilled into Precambrian basement in center of gravity low
- Gravity low may represent extensively thick clays both in the Upper, Lower, and Basal Red-Beds
- Holes will test Lower Clay to expand tonnage potential and thicker sequence correlative with gravity low which also has the potential for exceptional lithium grades
Ian Stalker, Executive Chairperson, commented:
"After we completed the MRE in September 2023, we quickly realised the unbridled potential to continue expansion of this important lithium-in-clay resource in Arizona. Our geologists developed a plan, designed a new drilling program and promptly engaged the BLM for an expansion of our Basin North permit. We thank the BLM for delivering a positive decision and look forward to embarking on this exciting drill program.
Not only are we hoping for sizeable expansion of this resource, but are estimating the resource will grow from the current 1.085 MT of LCE to over 2.5 MT, which will trigger an important US$3 million royalty payment from LRC. We are confident this will be a successful programme, and, with the royalty payment, the Company will be in an excellent position for the remainder of 2024 during the current softened lithium market."
General Background
The Company is building upon the 2023 MRE and NI-43-101 complaint report completed by SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd and reported on 28 September, 2023. In this prior PR, the Company reported the following in Table 1 below:
Table 1.
| Classification | Domain | Tonnes | Mean Grade | Contained Metal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt | Li (ppm) | K (%) | LCE (kt) | K (kt) | ||
| Indicated | Upper Clay | 11 | 720 | 3.5 | 42 | 380 |
| Upper Clay HG | 6 | 1350 | 3.2 | 43 | 190 | |
| Lower Clay | - | - | - | - | - | |
| SubTotal | 17 | 940 | 3.4 | 85 | 570 | |
| Inferred | Upper Clay | 143 | 790 | 2.7 | 600 | 3,800 |
| Upper Clay HG | 48 | 1290 | 3.1 | 330 | 1,500 | |
| Lower Clay | 19 | 690 | 2.8 | 70 | 530 | |
| SubTotal | 210 | 900 | 2.8 | 1,000 | 5,800 |
o Mineral Resource statement has an effective date of 1 September 2023. o The Mineral Resource is reported using a cut-off grade of 550 ppm Li and is constrained to an optimised open pit shell, which was generated using the following assumptions: lithium carbonate metal prices of 22,000 USD/tLCE; State of Arizona royalty (selling cost) of 6%; operating costs of 40 USD/ tore; Li recovery of 72%; mining dilution and recovery of 0% and 100%; and pit slope angle of 45°. o Tonnages are reported in metric units. o Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content which are not considered material. o Conversion factor of Li metal to lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) = 5.323 o The figures above are reported on a gross basis given Bradda's 100% interest in the property
This new programme is targeting significantly thicker clay sequences, consistent if not higher lithium grades and thicker lower clay sequence, with the potential to also discover new clays within the nearly 2km2 gravity low.
Bradda Head Lithium received an affirmative decision from the BLM on February 28th with confirmation that it could conduct exploration drilling on the Basin North notice of intent (NOI) amendment and based on a reclamation bond increase with permission to proceed on 3.8 acres of surface disturbance. Earth moving equipment was mobilized to prepare drill sites and experienced core drilling contractors brought in to conduct the drilling.
Like previous drilling programs conducted at Basin, drill holes will be vertical, but when clay horizons are encountered the Company's plan is to convert to a triple tube core capture technique which ensures high recovery and provides the Company with many options for sampling, density measurements, and geotechnical data for future studies.
Figure 1. Basin Drill Plan for 2024, prior drilling, geology, land, mineral resource boundaries.
For further information please visit the Company's website: www.braddaheadltd.com.
Qualified Person (BHL)
About Bradda Head Lithium Ltd.
The Basin East Project has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 17 Mt at an average grade of 940 ppm Li and 3.4% K for a total of 85 kt LCE and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 210 Mt at an average grade of 900 ppm Li and 2.8% K (potassium) for a total of 1.09 Mt LCE. In the rest of the Basin Project SRK has determined an Exploration Target of 250 to 830 Mt of material grading between 750 to 900 ppm Li, which is equivalent to a range of between 1 to 4 Mt contained LCE. The Group intends to continue to develop its three phase one projects in Arizona, whilst endeavouring to unlock value at its other prospective pegmatite and brine assets in Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. All of Bradda Head's licences are held on a 100% equity basis and are in close proximity to the required infrastructure. Bradda Head is quoted on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker of BHL and on the TSX Venture Exchange with a ticker of BHLI.
Technical Glossary
| Kt | Thousand tonnes |
| Ppm | Parts per million |
| MRE | Mineral Resource Estimate |
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