Kalamazoo Resources continues to build lithium portfolio, adds NSW project

Gold-lithium explorer Kalamazoo Resources (ASX: KZR) has beefed up its diversification into the battery metal after being granted the 993 square kilometre Jingellic lithium project northeast of Albury and abutting the Victorian border.

The company says the project is prospective for both pegmatite-hosted lithium-caesium-tantalum as well as hard rock tin mineralisation.

This move expands Kalamazoo’s total granted lithium exploration tenure in NSW and Western Australia to 1,328sq km.

The company’s lithium strategy also includes 345sq km tenement package in the Pilbara considered prospective for hard rock lithium deposits.

Kalamazoo has a joint venture on one project with Chile’s SQM, the world’s second largest lithium miner with a global 19% market share.

Initial exploration reveals historical tin-tungsten workings

Chairman and chief executive officer Luke Reinehr said the granting of Jingellic is the company’s first lithium foray into NSW.

“Increasing our portfolio to include NSW illustrates that Kalamazoo is entirely committed to becoming an all-Australian focused significant lithium and gold development company,” he added.

An initial field reconnaissance program exercise over the project area has confirmed the presence of several historical tin-tungsten mining workings and numerous outcropping pegmatite dykes.

Soil sampling to be first step

After engaging with local communities, Kalamazoo will kick off a low impact program including soil and rock chip sampling.

This will be done in parallel with the acquisition of high-resolution satellite imagery and field reconnaissance and mapping campaigns.

“This particular soil sampling technique has proven very successful at identifying lithium exploration targets at Kalamazoo’s WA lithium exploration projects,” the company said.

The ground has been granted for an initial six years.

Jingellic is located on the Lachlan Fold Belt.

The project area includes a mix of state forest, timber plantations, cleared and uncleared farmland.

Three lithium projects in WA

Last month, Kalamazoo reported that lithium mineralised pegmatite dykes had been discovered at the Marble Bar project in the Pilbara.

Rock chips assayed up to 1.6% lithium oxide and 372 parts per million tantalum.

Marble Bar, as well as the company’s DOM project, form part of the joint venture with SQM.

The company also owns the 147sq km Pear Creek lithium project which lies between Marble Bar and DOM.