Perpetual Resources to step up activity at Igrejinha after high-grade spodumene and caesium hits
Perpetual Resources (ASX: PEC) is preparing to accelerate exploration activities after receiving further high-grade spodumene and caesium assay results from its Igrejinha project in Brazil.
The company will undertake new soil, auger and rock-chip programs to identify targets for a maiden drill campaign it has planned for Q2 CY25.
Discussions with a drill contractor are in the final stages, with the company scheduling rigs for an early June start at Igrejinha.
Spodumene grades
The acceleration of activities comes after Perpetual confirmed further outstanding grades at Igrejinha that extended spodumene occurrence and verified the presence of high-grade lithium mineralisation across an extensive mineralised footprint.
The results returned spodumene grades exceeding 5.38% lithium oxide and caesium exceeding 5.3%, highlighting the exceptionally high-grade nature of the Igrejinha pegmatite system.
Executive chair Julian Babarczy said the results validated earlier high-grade results at Igrejinha and reinforced the company’s view that the project represents a significant and scalable lithium and co-product opportunity.
‘Large, high-grade system’
“These exceptional assay results further validate our belief that Igrejinha is a large, high-grade system with potential well beyond initial expectations,” Mr Babarczy said.
“The identification of caesium grades above lab detection limits, aligned with the site’s history of pollucite production, reinforces this view.”
“With lithium-focused drilling soon to commence, we are excited to unlock the full scale and value of this highly prospective system.”
The latest assay results also confirmed the presence of exceptionally high-grade lithium and caesium mineralisation, with significant tantalum and gallium identified within the Igrejinha pegmatite field.
Proven caesium source
The Igrejinha pegmatite has a legacy of caesium extraction, with artisanal mining for caesium evident across multiple workings.
Perpetual believes the presence of these historical workings, alongside the company’s high-grade caesium results, indicates a caesium-rich domain within the broader spodumene-rich pegmatite body.
Mr Babarczy said the latest results suggested a robust and persistent mineralised system with potential for lateral and vertical continuity.