New Dawn Lithium Project
New Dawn Lithium Project At A Glance
OPERATION SIZE
TBC
MAIDEN EXPLORATION TARGET
8-14Mt @ 1.0-1.2% Li2O spodumene mineralisation
MINING LICENCES
2
EXPLORATION LICENCES
9
HIGH GRADE
Peak grade 4.42% Li2O
A Highly Prospective Spodumene Bearing Lithium Project
The New Dawn Lithium Project is located in the West Australian Goldfields region. It occupies two pre-Native Title granted mining licences, as well as 9 exploration targets, providing the ability to fast-track any potential discovery into development.
The Project is highly prospective for spodumene bearing lithium, located a mere 600m west and abutting the 26.5Mt @ 1% Li2O spodumene Bald Hill Lithium Tantalum mine owned by Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN).
With producing lithium mines, increasing exploration activity, processing facilities and infrastructure, the Goldfields precinct is emerging as a global heavyweight for lithium production.
Maiden Exploration Target Confirms High-Grade Lithium
In February of 2024, Torque Metals announced a New Dawn Lithium Maiden Exploration Target (in accordance with JORC 2023) of 8 – 14 million tonnes at 1.0 – 1.2% Li2O. This current target encompasses 40% of two development-ready mining licences, with scope for expansion, as it excludes several other prospective areas within the leases and in surrounding tenements.
Since the delivery of this Maiden Exploration Target, Torque completed ~5,000m of RC drilling and 1,000m diamond drilling. The purpose of this drilling was twofold: RC Drilling to test and extend the Company’s maiden Exploration Target.
Highlight Results from Exploration Work
Significant, thick diamond core intersections include:
- 13.11m @ 1.03% Li2O, from 49.9m including 5.48m @ 2.25% Li2O, from 52.9m
and: 15.77m @ 1.01% Li2O, from 255.9m including 4.08m @ 1.94% Li2O, from 259.1m - 7.23m @ 1% Li2O, from 45.7m including 4.91m @ 1.12% Li2O, from 50.12m
and: 14.16m @ 1.01% Li2O, from 196.7m including 4.59m @ 1.71% Li2O, from 205.7m
RC drilling extended mineralised pegmatites to the north and south following a vertically stacked pattern remaining open in all directions, significant intersections include:
- 13m @ 1.05% Li2O, from 67m including 7m @ 1.86% Li2O, from 69m
- 7m @ 1.03% Li2O, from 50m including 1m @ 4.42% Li2O, from 51m
- 9m @ 1.02% Li2O, from 167m including 5m @ 1.6% Li2O, from 168m
and: 5m @ 1.14% Li2O, from 221m including 2m @ 2.68% Li2O, from 222m
and: 10m @ 1.51% Li2O, from 249m including 4m @ 3.38% Li2O, from 251m - 12m @ 1% Li2O, from 244m including 3m @ 1.57% Li2O, from 245m
- 9m @ 1.01% Li2O, from 92m including 4m @ 1.95% Li2O, from 93m
and: 4m @ 1.01% Li2O, from 267m
and: 8m @ 1.07% Li2O, from 318m within broader zone of 18m @ 0.65% Li2O, from 318m
INNOVATIVE EXPLORATION UNLOCKING NEW DAWN’S POTENTIAL
Torque Metals is making significant strides in the exploration of the New Dawn Lithium Project. Our cutting-edge modelling and smart exploration strategies have delivered outstanding results, demonstrating the immense potential of this asset.
Through comprehensive RC and DD assays, we have successfully unveiled the opportunities within New Dawn, and we remain committed to systematically unlocking the full potential of our lithium resource. Our ongoing efforts aim to progressively enhance the value of this critical asset.
Shallow intersections at New Dawn reveal the presence of thick and continuous pegmatite lodes, with spodumene clearly indicated under UV light. Notably, these lodes remain open in both the north and south directions, following a north-west trend from the adjacent Bald Hill deposit.
Additionally, deep intersections exhibit much the same characteristics as the shallow lodes. The main difference is that these pegmatite bodies also remain open up-dip towards the west and southeast towards the Bald Hill deposit, displaying a distinctive directional trend. Collectively, these together with our drilling results strengthen confidence in the geological continuity between the Bald Hill Lithium mine and New Dawn.
Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique that provides information about the molecular structures and chemical environments of organic and inorganic molecules and molecular ions (Raman and Krishnan, A new type of secondary radiation. Nature, 1928).
Identification of spodumene in pegmatite drill chips using Raman spectroscopy was conducted by the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis of the University of Western Australia. Laboratory results confirmed the presence of spodumene in the RC drill chips with an almost identical spodumene standard response.
Torque’s drilling results are also demonstrating strong grades of Tantalum (Ta), Niobium (Nb) and Tin (Sn) mineralisation at New Dawn, generally when lithium grades are low, that is, there is a converse relationship between the concentrations of Tantalum (Ta), Niobium (Nb), Rubidium (Rb) and Tin (Sn) compared to lithium. This inverse grade correlation signifies a distinctive mineralisation pattern within New Dawn.
Torque has marked out and submitted applications for tenements E25/0642, E25/0643, E25/0644, E25/0645 which, subject to granting to Torque, will permit the Company to significantly expand the New Dawn Lithium Project into key lithium-rich territories. Geological mapping and sampling have commenced at newly identified target areas for an initial drilling campaign when market conditions warrant.