Pan Asia Metals confirms extensive lithium zone at Reung Kiet
Pan Asia Metals has defined a 1km pegmatite trend at Reung Kiet, which remains open to the north, south and at depth.
South East Asia’s only lithium explorer Pan Asia Metals (ASX: PAM) has confirmed an “extensive” lithium mineralised zone with “robust” thickness and grades at its Reung Kiet hard rock project in Thailand.
Intersected lithium oxide grades are in line with other lithium mica projects in the global peer group, the company added.
In addition to lithium, there is tin, tantalum, caesium, rubidium and potassium mineralisation — and these are all potentially valuable by-products.
With these, too, intersected grades are line with the global peer group.
Valuable by-products associated with lithium
Reung Kiet is an old tin pit, 500m long and 125m wide, with an depth of about 20m.
The first of the most recent four assays returned 27.9m of composite mineralisation at 0.7% lithium oxide, with 14.15m at 0.81% lithium oxide, 590 parts per million tin, 117ppm tantalum, 305ppm caesium, 0.28% rubidium and 2.75% potassium.
Another hole contains 38.05m of composite mineralisation, including 10.15m at 0.93% lithium oxide, 105 ppm tantalum, 309ppm caesium, 0.32% rubidium and 2.71% potassium.
Assays of the other two holes showed 27.75m and 22.8m of composite mineralisation respectively, with by-product minerals.
10,000tpa lithium chemical plant ‘realistic’
Pan Asia managing director Paul Lock said the company continues to be very satisfied with assays so far.
“Our infill and extensional drilling continues to reward us with great success and the prospective zone at Reung Kiet prospect still remains open to the north and south and at depth on many sections.”
“Our drilling results suggest that a 10,000 tonne per annum lithium chemical plant is a realistic objective,” Mr Lock added.
Reung Kiet contains a pegmatite swarm about 500m from the old tin pit, as well as numerous dykes, veins and stringers.
Pan Asia ‘potentially’ only South East Asia lithium carbonate/hydroxide manufacturer
Pegmatites rich in lepidolite, or lithium mica, were identified in the late 1960s at several tin mines in the region.
Pan Asia has described itself as “potentially the only mine through lithium carbonate/hydroxide manufacturer in [South East] Asia.
Indeed, the company is the only lithium explorer in South East Asia and has been reviewing the area since 2017.
Drilling is continuing at Reung Kiet.