Dart Mining confirms spodumene at Dorchap, grading up to 14.5%

Following X-ray diffraction analysis of drill core at its Dorchap project in Victoria, Dart Mining (ASX: DTM) has determined that spodumene is the primary lithium mineral in the pegmatite dykes.

X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used on 74 samples from the Dorchap dyke swarm.

At Scrubby Creek dyke, a hole returned 10m at 14.5% spodumene, while other highlight holes were 10m at 8.6%, 10m at 9.6%, 4.8m at 10.6% and 4m at 13.5% spodumene.

Spodumene is the primary ore mined globally for hard-rock lithium deposits.

Lithium potential identified six years ago

Dart chairman James Chirnside said confirmation of spodumene as the primary mineralisation style further underscores the importance of the Dorchap project.

“These latest XRD analyses across the project demonstrate the effectiveness of geochemical mapping for pin-pointing that main target area for lithium prospectivity,” he added.

Of the 74 samples submitted, 58% demonstrated spodumene mineralisation, while 11% of the samples contained both petalite and spodumene.

Dart geologists first identified the lithium prospectivity of pegmatite dykes in the Dorchap Range in 2016 and set about acquiring exploration leases across the region.

These were the first recorded lithium pegmatites identified in Victoria and are believed to have been sourced from the nearby Mount Wills Granite.

A regional sampling program consisting of 826 samples had identified a strong fractionation trend across the Dorchap Range.

Sampling at the project has uncovered 1.57% lithium, 9.98% tin and 0.1% tantalum, and 838 parts per million caesium.

Tin, tungsten also being targeted

The Dorchap and Glen Wills pegmatite dyke swarms have demonstrated lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) style mineralisation, associated with tin and tungsten.

Dart is also focusing on the Walwa and Mt Alfred tin fields, including the McHargs tungsten prospect.

Additionally, the company has the aim of evaluating and developing several historic goldfields, as well as substantiating a new porphyry province in northeast Victoria.

The area is prospective for precious, base, and strategic metals. These include lithium, gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, zinc, tungsten, tin, tantalum and other minerals.

Dart’s primary thrust had been on building a strategically placed gold exploration footprint in the central and northeast regions of Victoria, where it says historic surface and alluvial gold mining indicates the existence of potentially significant gold endowment.