Birimian (ASX:BGS) has confirmed the potential to expand the resource at its Bougouni Lithium Project in southern Mali after intersecting wide zones of high-grade lithium.
With an existing resource of 229,000 tonnes of contained lithium grading 1.48% lithium, the Goulamina deposit within the project is already among the highest grade lithium deposits globally.
The current drilling program has been designed to expand the existing resource and enable upgrades to resource classifications for detailed feasibility assessments.
Assay results for the first nine holes at Goulamina West Zone have returned intersections of wide and high-grade lithium mineralisation, including:
- 44 metres at 1.75% lithium from 82 metres;
- 80 metres at 1.48% lithium from 43 metres; and
- 45 metres at 1.72% lithium from 57 metres.
Notably, assay tenor is appreciably higher than the current modelled global resource grade, and near surface intersections remain open along strike and at depth, indicating further potential.
Two diamond rigs and a reverse circulation rig are currently on site and have completed the original planned 10,000 metres of drilling.
Given the early encouraging signs, the program has been extended to incorporate additional drilling in selected priority areas.
Birimian is seeking to rapidly expedite commercialisation of the Bougouni project, following a positive scoping study completed last month which confirmed its outstanding potential.
The company is aiming to complete the metallurgical test work and an upgraded resource estimate in the current quarter, with the pre-feasibility study to be released in the June 2017 quarter.
Birimian is well funded with a cash balance of about $7.6 million as at 31 December 2016.