MetalsGrove kicks off maiden drilling at Upper Coondina lithium project in northwest WA

MetalsGrove Mining (ASX:MGA) has kicked off RC drilling at its WA-based Upper Coondina lithium play, chasing after known lithium pegmatite outcrops, after trace amounts of the battery metal was detected in soil samples earlier this month. 

Now moving ahead to drilling after only five months on the bourse, a Topdrill rig is currently being mobilised at Upper Coondina which will work its way to the Chola prospect. 

The RC drill run will see 3,000m of core equivalent collected; earth work contractors have been assigned to clear the way for the rig to move freely along the 4km of strike length it is targeting. This campaign reflects Phase I of drilling at Upper Coondina; which will focus on Chola. 

Simultaneous with maiden drilling, MetalsGrove will also move ahead to a deep-ground penetrating survey imaging campaign, which it says will be highly effective in detecting pegmatites at depth associated with outcrops. 

Ultimately, drilling is designed to confirm the width, depth, and mineralisation grades of pegmatite deposits at the project. 

Thanks to our stakeholders: MetalsGrove

“We are fortunate to have developed excellent working relationships with all stakeholders at Upper Coondina. These relationships have assisted our rapid progress with the project,” MetalsGrove MD Sean Sivasamy said. 

“We are pleased to be moving to drilling at Upper Coondina just five months after listing.” 

“We have already identified multiple pegmatite swarms prospective for lithium over a combined strike length of nearly 4km. This drilling will confirm width, depth, and mineralisation profiles of these pegmatites down to 60m to 100m depth.” 

Upper Coondina becoming the flagship

MetalsGrove’s focus through the second half of 2022 has been defined by its interest in the Upper Coondina lithium project. 

In late September, the company’s share price jumped by over 45% as MetalsGrove announced its detection of lithium pegmatite outcrops within the boundary envelope of the project. 

All in all, the exploration team has up to 8km of strike length to chase after, which forms into a corridor-like formation on-site the project. Half of that is mapped and known, and what the RC rig on-site today will sniff out first. 

The discovery of pegmatite outcrops is clearly the frontispiece of reasons investors are interested, backed up by lithium in soil samples. 

While makeup of the rock bodies remains to be announced, spodumene often occurs in pegmatite rock; the other most common form is lepidolite, somewhat harder to process downstream, but not impossible. Lepidolite is so common that one ASX company, Lepidico (ASX:LPD) named itself after it. 

From a nearology perspective, it’s easy to see why the company’s exploration team is hopeful: located relatively nearby is Global Lithium’s (ASX:GL1) Archer project, as well as acreage owned by Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS). 

The state of MetalsGrove's six month charts

Disclaimer: Market Index helps small-cap ASX listed companies connect with Australian investors through clear and concise articles on key developments. MetalsGrove was a client at the time of publishing. All coverage contains factual information only and should not be interpreted as an opinion or financial advice.