JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Premier African Minerals has drilled the first two diamond holes at its Zulu lithium project, near Fort Rixon, in Zimbabwe.
Premier is drilling a series of 20 diamond drill holes designed to test for strike and depth extensions at the project, which currently has a strike length of 3.5 km.
The drilling programme is designed to establish a maiden resource.
The first drill core has been logged and split, and ample preparation is under way.
"It is encouraging that we continue to intersect visible hard rock lithium mineralisation from near surface to depth, as predicted in our geological model,” said CEO George Roach in a note on Monday.
He added that the extent and hardness of the mineralisation had contributed to a slower drilling rate than originally expected. “A second rig has been deployed and commences operation today to expedite this drilling programme,” Roach said.
He further pointed out that preparation was progressing at the company’s in-house facilities and that granting of export permits for shipment of samples was under way.
“We will report assay results as they come to hand."