Savannah’s CEO, David Archer said: “We are delighted with the consistently excellent results we are seeing from the drilling of the Grandao system. The main Grandao Deposit already extends over a large area of 400m north-south and 330m east-west. Grandao Extended is adding to this with a 300m extension to the southwest which suggests that much of the Exploration Target in this area has the potential to be converted to additional Mineral Resource. It is particularly encouraging to see the excellent grades being reported as we believe this will only add to the economic appeal of a mine development at Grandao which already benefits from near surface mineralisation which should be able to be mined with a very low stripping ratio.
In parallel, our metallurgical and Scoping Study work continues, and we are on track to take the project towards an early development decision regarding a mine that we believe has the potential to be the most significant near-term lithium development in Europe.
First pass exploration drilling of three other deposits within our project (Campo de Futebol, Piagro Negro and Romainho) produced encouraging results despite the limitations resulting from the necessity of siting the holes on existing tracks. I look forward to providing further updates from Mina do Barroso as we continue to unlock the value in this exciting project.”
Savannah Resources plc (AIM: SAV and SWB: SAV) the AIM quoted resource development company, this morning announced further results from the ongoing reverse circulation (‘RC’) drill programme at the Mina do Barroso Lithium Project in Portugal (Figure 1 – See PDF), where an area of new high-grade lithium mineralisation has been discovered. To view the press release with the illustrative maps and diagrams please use the following link:
HIGHLIGHTS:
— Drill testing of the Exploration Target to the west and southwest of the main Grandao Deposit has led to the discovery of new high-grade lithium mineralisation which has been named “Grandao Extended”
-- Key results include:
– 90m at 0.96% Li O from surface including 31m at 1.06% Li O from surface and 34m at 1.37% Li O from 50m in 18GRARC65
- 31m at 1.42% Li O from 47m in 18GRARC63 - 18m at 1.52% Li O from 24m in 18GRARC50 - 25m at 1.27% Li O from 34m in 18GRARC53 - 11m at 1.71% Li O from 45m in 18GRARC46
— Drilling to date at Grandao Extended has defined a zone of pegmatite approximately 300m long and 200m wide confirming the excellent potential of the zone
— Total of 120 holes for 9,600m drilled to date as part of the ongoing RC drill programme across three primary targets of Grandao, Reservatorio and NOA
— Drill testing of Piagro Negro, Campo de Futebol and Romainho returned encouraging first pass results including:
- 15m at 0.4% Li O from surface in 18PGNRC01 (Piagro Negro) - 13m at 0.5% Li O from 2m in 18CAMRC02 (Campo de Futebol) - 6m at 0.85% Li O from surface in 18ROMRC05 (Romainho)
— The Hatch Scoping Study is on schedule to be completed towards the end of Q2 2018 together with a further Mineral Resource update
— Phase 3 of the metallurgical test work programme is progressing well and on schedule to be completed during Q3 2018 – six (480m drilled) out of the eight planned diamond holes to collect metallurgical drill samples at the Grandao and Reservatorio deposits have been completed
Figure 1. Mina do Barroso Project Summary Map showing prospects and drilling completed to date – See PDF
Grandao
A total of 76 drill holes for 6,711m (17GRARC01-76) have been completed and results for drill holes 17GRARC43 to 65 have now been received and returned further very encouraging results (Table 1 and Figures 2-3 See PDF).
Drilling targeting the defined Exploration Target to the west and southwest of the main Grandao deposit has been successful in defining a potentially significant extension to the Grandao mineralisation, “Grandao Extended”. All holes completed in the area to date have intersected significant mineralisation with recent results pointing towards the potential for the zone to be of higher grade than the current Grandao Mineral Resource.
Drilling to date has defined a zone around 300m long and 200m wide with the widest intercept returned to date being 90m in 18GRARC65.
Table 1. Summary of drill results for Grandao flat lying pegmatite using a 0.2% and 0.5% Li(2) O cut-off
0.2% Li O Cut-Off 0.5% Li O Cut-Off
----------- ---------------------- -------------------- -----
Hole
ID From Width Li O From Width Li O
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC43 32 15 0.79 34 12 0.88
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC43 51 7 0.56 53 4 0.8
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC44 8 12 1.06 10 10 1.23
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC44 25 2 0.28
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC45 30 16 1.22 30 16 1.22
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC45 50 8 0.93 50 7 1.01
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC46 0 4 0.77 0 2 1.15
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC46 38 23 0.9 45 11 1.71
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC46 68 1 0.92 68 1 0.92
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC46 74 7 0.95 75 6 1.05
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC47 1 7 0.43 1 2 1.03
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC48 47 17 1.13 47 16 1.19
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC49 24 16 0.51 26 7 0.58
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
37 2 1.07
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC50 6 2 0.5 6 1 0.78
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC50 24 19 1.46 24 18 1.52
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC53 29 36 0.95 34 25 1.27
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC55 14 13 0.48 22 5 0.87
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC58 38 6 1.09 38 5 1.24
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC58 77 7 0.44 79 5 0.55
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC62 14 8 0.27 43 1 0.51
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC62 32 20 0.26 63 1 0.5
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC62 63 1 0.5 72 1 0.5
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC62 72 1 0.5
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC63 43 40 1.16 47 31 1.42
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC64 81 23 0.97 83 20 1.06
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
18GRARC65 0 90 0.96 0 31 1.06
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
54 34 1.37
----------- ------ ------- ----- --------- --------- -----
Figure 2. Summary of drilling at Grandao showing significant assay results, with surface pegmatite bodies shown in pink shading – See PDF
Figure 3. 3D model of the Grandao Resource Model and Exploration Target showing new intersections – See PDF
Piagro Negro
The pegmatites at Piagro Negro occur as folded northwest to southeast trending gentle anticlines and synclines plunging towards northwest. Drilling of six holes (18PGNRC01-06) for 270m targeted at the eastern part of the prospect where access was easy, and results intersected good widths of mineralized pegmatite (Table 2 and Figure 4). Further detailed work is now required with a focus on accessing the western part of the prospect.
Table 2. Summary of drill results for Piagro Negro reported at a 0.2% and 0.5% Li(2) O cut-off
0.2% Li O Cut-Off 0.5% Li O Cut-Off
----------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Hole
ID From Width Li O% From Width Li O%
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC01 0 15 0.4 0 8 0.52
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC02 23 7 0.32 26 1 0.87
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC04 0 2 0.24
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC04 25 1 0.2
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC04 34 2 0.2
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC05 15 12 0.29 19 1 1.1
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC06 1 12 0.44 2 2 1.4
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18PGNRC06 19 11 0.31 24 1 0.56
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
27 1 0.72
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Figure 4. Summary of recent drilling at Piagro Negro, showing drilling completed and significant assays received, with surface pegmatite bodies shown in pink shading – See PDF
Campo de Futebol
The Lithium pegmatite of Campo Futebol shows a classic S-type fold geometry which are typical of a major structural zone like the one at Mina do Barroso which hosts the majority of the pegmatites within the project area. A total of three holes (18CAMRC01-03) for 145m were completed with drilling intersecting good widths of mineralized pegmatites and further work is required to further access the potential of the prospect area (Table 3 and Figure 5).
Table 3. Summary of drill results, Campo de Futebol reported at a 0.2% and 0.5% Li(2) O cut-off
0.2% Li O Cut-Off 0.5% Li O Cut-Off
----------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Hole
ID From Width Li O% From Width Li O%
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18CAMRC01 16 2 0.22
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18CAMRC01 26 3 0.22
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18CAMRC02 2 13 0.5 6 2 1.26
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
12 2 0.72
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18CAMRC03 3 11 0.43 5 4 0.77
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Figure 5. Summary of recent drilling at Campo de Futebol, showing drilling completed and significant assays received, with surface pegmatite bodies shown in pink shading – See PDF
Romainho
Drilling of five holes (18ROMRC01-05) for 257m at Romainho targeting a series of pegmatites with an apparent width of over 20m has intersected a thin sub horizontal pegmatite body up to 6m in width (Table 4 and Figure 6 see PDF). The flat nature of the pegmatite body has given an exaggerated surface expression of the body. Further mapping and evaluation of the prospect will now be completed to determine what additional work is required.
Table 4. Summary of drill results for Romainho reported at a 0.2% and 0.5% Li(2) O cut-off
0.2% Li O Cut-Off 0.5% Li O Cut-Off
----------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Hole
ID From Width Li O% From Width Li O%
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18ROMRC03 0 2 0.67 0 2 0.67
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18ROMRC04 14 2 0.2
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18ROMRC05 0 6 0.85 1 4 1.07
----------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Figure 6. Summary of recent drilling at Romainho, showing drilling completed and significant assays received, with surface pegmatite bodies shown in pink shading – See PDF
Ongoing Drill Programme
Based on the new results additional RC drill holes have been added to the programme at Grandao, in order to further evaluate the potential of Grandao Extended and the wider project area.
Following the completion of the diamond drilling for the phase 3 metallurgical test work programme, the diamond rig will complete the extension of six existing RC holes to depth to target the newly identified broad zone of sub-vertical lithium mineralisation identified at depth below the main tabular, near surface Grandao Deposit.
Metallurgical Test Work
Diamond drilling at both the Reservatorio and Grandao deposits is progressing well, with four diamond holes now completed at Reservatorio. The drill core from these holes is currently being cut and prepared for shipment to Nagrom in Perth for test work and an additional two holes of a four-hole programme completed at Grandao (Figure 7 – See PDF). Work is on track to be completed in Q3 2018.
Figure 7. Spodumene bearing pegmatite, diamond drill core from the main Grandao Deposit, dry core on the left and wet core on the right – See PDF Savannah PDF 050418
