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Dart showcases mineralisation at Victorian lithium site

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Dart Mining says its lithium pegmatites at the Dorchap Range lithium project are the first recorded in Victoria.
Camera IconDart Mining says its lithium pegmatites at the Dorchap Range lithium project are the first recorded in Victoria. Credit: File

X-ray diffraction, or “XRD” analysis has identified four types of lithium-bearing minerals at Dart Mining’s Dorchap Range lithium project in north-east Victoria — confirming the site’s primary mineralisation style as spodumene.

Dart’s analysis of 74 pegmatite samples across the Dorchap dyke swarm found notable concentrations of spodumene and petalite that the company says are the main sources of hard-rock lithium ore.

The company also found amblygonite in addition to cookeite that is formed through the alteration of lithium-bearing minerals.

XRD is an analysis technique that reveals information on crystal structure and provides an average bulk mineral composition of the samples.

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The Dorchap Range project was identified as a potential lithium prospect in 2016 by Dart, which then moved quickly to acquire exploration licences in the region.

Dart says the area’s lithium pegmatites are the first recorded in Victoria and believed to be sourced from the nearby Mount Wills granite formation.

Sample highlights include 10m going 14.5 per cent spodumene at Dart’s Scrubby Creek dyke.

The company’s Eagle dyke returned results of 10m at 9.6 per cent spodumene and 10m going 8.6 per cent.

Dart has previously said that Eagle Dyke will be its primary target for drilling.

Holloway dyke analysis returned high levels of petalite including 10m at 24.3 per cent petalite and 2.9 per cent spodumene in addition to another 5m sample going 22.9 per cent petalite and 3.9 per cent spodumene.

Of the sampled pegmatites, 58 per cent contained spodumene mineralisation, 31 per cent showed petalite and 11 per cent contained both minerals.

Dart says cookeite was present in 55 per cent of the samples and was typically found in those containing spodumene.

Confirmation of spodumene as the primary mineralisation style, with subsidiary petalite in pegmatites, further underscores the importance of Dart’s Dorchap lithium project. These latest XRD analyses across the project demonstrate the effectiveness of geochemical mapping for pinpointing the main target area for lithium prospectivity.

Dart Mining Chairman, James Chirnside

All notable spodumene and petalite samples are within the 20km by 12km zone identified through geochemical trends by the company.

Chip sampling highlights from the area include 10m at 0.95 per cent lithium oxide, 20m at 0.33 per cent lithium oxide at Eagle Dyke.

The reports of the death of lithium appear to have been greatly exaggerated with its price recovering since the demise of its demand was predicted by a variety of sources at the start of June. How the news of its arrival in Victoria is treated and whether Dart are followed by a stampede of explorers keen to snare their own slice of battery metals could be interesting to watch over the coming months.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au

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