Galan Lithium firms up spodumene potential of Greenbushes South after preliminary field work
Mapping at Greenbushes South has identified the same geological structure within the project that is found at the nearby world class Greenbushes open pit spodumene mine.
While advancing its flagship Hombre Muerto West lithium brine project in Argentina, Galan (ASX: GLN) is also firming up lithium potential at the Greenbushes South joint venture near the famed Greenbushes spodumene mine in Western Australia.
Galan has now completed reconnaissance field work at the project where it holds an 80% stake and Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) retains a 20% interest.
Field work comprised soil and rock sampling, plus mapping, with Galan noting mapping had indicated the major Donnybrook-Bridgetown Shear Zone (DBSZ) geological structure that hosts the Greenbushes mine transects the Greenbushes South project.
Galan collected 25 soil samples and 15 rock chips from perpendicular to the DBSZ strike at Greenbushes South.
Assays from samples near the DBSZ contained up to 574 parts per million arsenic, 16ppm antimony and 12ppm tin.
Samples taken from previously mapped pegmatite outcrops contained up to 27ppm tin.
These are pathfinder elements that have also been found to surround the nearby Greenbushes mine.
Hunting for another Greenbushes discovery
According to Galan, the latest results combined with historical data indicate the DBSZ and its associated geochemical footprint continues along strike from the world class Greenbushes mine into the Greenbushes South project.
The company said this was a “positive sign”.
Future soil and geophysical surveys will be targeted along the DBSZ to potentially uncover blind pegmatite bodies.
Galan is planning another soil and rock chip sampling program.
Greenbushes lithium mine
Albemarle Corporation holds a majority 49% interest in the nearby Greenbushes mine, with IGO (ASX: IGO) recently purchasing a 24.99% stake from Tianqi Lithium which owns the remaining 26.01%.
Greenbushes is the largest hard-rock spodumene mine in the world and has been operated since 2014.
The mine produces spodumene concentrate which is exported to China, Europe and North America, with some mineralisation also transported to a plant in Kwinana for refining.
Galan’s Greenbushes South project is 3km south of the open pit operation.
The project covers 353 square kilometres.