PIONEER ANNOUNCES A 5,000M RC DRILLING PROGRAMME AT ITS PIONEER DOME LITHIUM PROJECT, WA
LITHIUM GEOCHEMISTRY CONFIRMS 14KM PROSPECTIVE PEGMATITE CORRIDOR
Perth Western Australia, 27 July 2016: Pioneer Resources Limited ("Company" or "Pioneer") (ASX: PIO) is pleased to provide an exploration update for its 100%-held Pioneer Dome Project, located mid-way between Kalgoorlie and the Port of Esperance, and 75km south of the Mt Marion Lithium Mine, in Western Australia.
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Geochemistry confirms a 14 kilometre long, lithium-prospective Pegmatite Corridor, covering 13 mapped pegmatite clusters, along the eastern Pioneer Dome.
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Approximately 50% of the Pegmatite Corridor has been soil sampled. Three priority lithium anomalies are evident to date, at PEG001, PEG002 and PEG008. These are drill-ready.
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An initial 5,000m RC drill program to test these priority targets for spodumene mineralisation is planned for September, subject to regulatory approvals for drilling.
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Geochemistry and airborne geophysical imagery has generated additional anomalies associated with 'blind pegmatites' - those that don't outcrop.
14 kilometre long Pegmatite Corridor Identified
Elements of geochemistry, geophysics and geological mapping, when combined, have resulted in the identification of a Pegmatite Corridor, known to host lithium-bearing pegmatites, that extends for over 14 kilometres along the eastern margin of the Pioneer Dome. (See Figure 1).
Lithium Anomalies Coincident With Outcropping Pegmatites at Multiple Targets
An orientation soil geochemistry survey was conducted over the PEG009 lithium-bearing pegmatite (refer ASX release 19/05/2016). Subsequently, approximately 5,000 soil samples have been completed generating lithium anomalies at Pegmatite targets PEG001, PEG002 and PEG008 (Figures 2 and 3). Geochemistry now covers 50% of the Pegmatite Corridor, with samples analysed for elements diagnostic for Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum ("LCT") pegmatites.
Soil geochemistry is ongoing and targets PEG003, PEG004 and PEG005 will be sampled in due course. Proprietary Geochemical Technique Using pXRF Seen As 'Fit For Purpose'
Soil samples from PEG008 were initially analysed by a commercial laboratory, and these yielded a strong lithium ("Li") anomaly, coincident with a large mapped pegmatite (Figures 3 and 4). Subsequently, all soil geochemistry samples from this programme were analysed using a hand-held pXRF analyser. While the pXRF analyser cannot directly detect Li, the Company's consultant geochemist has developed a propriety algorithm to estimate the Li content ("Lithium Index" - see Figures 2b and 3b) based on results from a suite of co-existing elements. The Lithium Index has a correlation coefficient of >84% when compared to laboratory Li results. Pioneer considers that this exploration strategy, utilising pXRF and batched 'check' laboratory analyses, is fit for purpose in the context of identifying potentially lithium-bearing pegmatites for drilling. In addition to being cost efficient, it ensures very rapid information turn-around.
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Targets at PEG001, PEG002 and PEG008 are drill-ready
Statutory requirements in respect of environmental approval and heritage protection have commenced and submissions and site visits are expected to be completed by mid-August. Drilling is expected to follow thereafter, with results expected during the December 2016 quarter. An initial 5,000m of RC drilling is anticipated, with supporting diamond core drilling expected to follow.
Figure 1: Pioneer Dome Project - Eastern Pegmatite Corridor. Elements shown include Total Count radiometric image and outcropping pegmatites (red), These indicate a Pegmatite Corridor known to host complex pegmatites. The Corridor is evident over 14 km along the eastern margin of the Pioneer Dome
Mapped Pegmatite
Mapped Pegmatite
Figure 2a: PEG001 and PEG002 Targets showing potassium/thorium radiometric data imagery overlain with mapped-in-outcrop and interpreted pegmatites.
PEG001 and PEG002 lithium targets are interpreted as a series of stacked pegmatites, evident in mapping and soil geochemistry. The anomaly is over 3 km long.
Figure 2b: Image of a proprietary Lithium Index based on elements associated with lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites, below.
Figure 3a: PEG008 Target showing potassium/thorium radiometric data imagery with mapped-in-outcrop and interpreted pegmatites.
PEG008 lithium target is interpreted as tabular pegmatite, evident in mapping with secondary splays and offsets. The overall anomaly is approximately 1.7km long.
Figure 3b: Image of a proprietary lithium index based on elements associated with lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites, below.
Mapped Pegmatite
Mapped Pegmatite
Figure 4: Detail of Lithium PEG008 Target.
Li (Laboratory) soil geochemistry. Mapped pegmatite overlaying image of lithium assays, showing a coincident anomaly that is 750m long.
The sampling covers a large mapped pegmatite body and indicates that this has potential to be a fertile rare-metal (LCT) pegmatite.
Mapped Pegmatite
Additional geochemical results by pXRF, that are consistent with the presence of rare-metal pegmatites, extend beyond the mapped pegmatite for another 900m.
Drilling is the next step.
PROJECT OUTLOOK
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Priority lithium anomalies have been identified at PEG001, PEG002 and PEG008. These are drill-ready and statutory approvals for drilling have been sought. Assuming a timely approval process, drilling is expected commence during September 2016. Initially drill holes will be collared on an 80x80m pattern, infilling as necessary to 40x40m.
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Soil geochemistry sampling was halted when a persistent rain event effected sample quality. PEG003, PEG004 and PEG005 will be sampled when soil conditions improve.
ABOUT THE PIONEER DOME LITHIUM PROJECT
The Pioneer Dome was recognised as having potential for lithium mineralisation following a review of historic exploration reports which recorded that numerous pegmatites were intersected in nickel or gold- focussed drilling undertaken since the 1960s. The prospectivity model was further enhanced by colloquial records of lithium and tantalum mineralisation and tourmaline in prospector scale workings, which are some of the characteristic minerals of a zoned rare-metal pegmatite complex.
The Project comprises 1 granted exploration licence and 4 exploration licence applications, with a total area of 284 sq km, extending over approximately a 45 km strike length and a 20 km width.
The Company had, in 2005, commissioned a detailed geological interpretation of the Pioneer Dome (Jones
M.G. (Lithofire), 2005), and this has been supplemented by MERIWA granitoid mapping, (Whittaker and Cassidy, 2002). Together, these maps show at least thirteen clusters of pegmatites occurring along a 14 km strike length of the eastern margin of the Pioneer Dome (see Figure 5). This extends for a further 20km (34 km strike) when other peripheral pegmatite clusters are included.
The Project is well located being approximately 130km south of Kalgoorlie, and 200km north of the Port of Esperance. Access is excellent with the Goldfields Highway and Esperance railway, and water and gas pipelines passing through the Project.