Tambourah Metals takes to the air with Russian Jack lithium reconnaissance

Tambourah Metals (ASX: TMB) is now awaiting key data after the successful completion of an aerial reconnaissance survey over its Russian Jack lithium project area in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The information from the survey will be used to verify and map mineralisation at several locations where extensive pegmatites have been identified.

The company is now preparing to follow-up the aerial studies with field work over the coming months.

Working with CSIRO

The survey is part of a collaborative study Tambourah is undertaking with Australia’s leading science body the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

That program is generating information using machine learning from hyperspectral data to assess the most probable locations and extensions of the pegmatites both above and below the surface.

The company’s executive chairperson Rita Brooks said the company has focused on three specific target areas identified in the initial heatmap provided by the CSIRO.

These targets were inspected during the aerial reconnaissance and preliminary findings will be integrated into our ongoing exploration planning once verified.

Geological potential assessment

Ms Brooks said the primary objectives of the aerial reconnaissance were to assess the geological potential of the area to help unveil ground-truth key exploration targets based on information from the CSIRO collaboration and to gather geological information to guide the company’s future exploration activities.

“Ground inspections will now ensue to evaluate, map and sample the extensive pegmatites located within the Russian Jack project area. This on-ground assessment will provide valuable insights and assist with selecting areas of interest for Heritage surveys and future exploration activities.”

The company has applied to commence Heritage surveys in selected areas, in accordance with the results of the aerial reconnaissance survey.

Haystack Well assessment

The survey was also flown over the new Haystack Well project which the company recently acquired from Minrex.

The Twin Wells alluvial prospect has historically been shown to contain strong extensive stacked swarms of pegmatites striking within a southerly direction over 650 metres.

Samples over the historic Twin Wells alluvial tailings have also been sampled for assaying.

Extensive stacked pegmatite swarms over 650m wide and historically mined for tantalum containing beryl, corundum and kunzite (lithium oxide) have previously been found by historic work at Tabba Tabba tantalum deposit.

Lithium exploration funding

In early August Tambourah obtained strong support for a capital raise to support its lithium exploration plans.

The placement raised $2.5 million after securing strong interest from domestic and international sophisticated investments.

The company also offered eligible shareholders the opportunity to participate in a non-underwritten share purchase plan to target a further $1.2 million.

Multiple exploration fronts

Tambourah is currently progressing exploration programs on multiple fronts, including six new lithium projects in the Pilbara.

In early September, the company completed first pass sampling of 18 rock chips at the Shaw River lithium-tin-tantalum project.

The pegmatites and dumps that were sampled produced elevated tin and the rock chips confirmed pegmatites with up to 188 parts per million of lithium.

The Shaw River Project (E45/4601) is located 180km southeast of Port Hedland and 20km due east of the Tambourah gold and Lithium project.

Tambourah’s work there includes reconnaissance sampling and mapping at several locations with outcropping pegmatites in the lead-up to a proposed drill program.

An extended review of the tailings dumps will include sampling for potential lithium, tin and tantalum is being included in a separate program.