Arkle Resources plc has discovered pegmatites in the company’s new search for lithium at its 100% owned Mine River gold block on the Wexford-Wicklow border in Ireland.
LEINSTER GRANITE
Reconnaissance work at Mine River has confirmed the presence of granite, pegmatite and aplite rock and the company now plans to collect specimens for analysis.
Arkle identified pegmatite and aplite rock boulders at four of five tested target areas.
EXPLORATION
The block is near the known lithium-bearing Leinster granite pegmatite belt, lying to the west and contiguous with the International Lithium Corp – Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd operations which discovered a “large zone of lithium-bearing pegmatites and aplites”.
“The Mine River block is well positioned for the exploration of lithium-bearing pegmatites due to its close proximity to the eastern margin of the Leinster granite, which is host to Ireland’s lithium pegmatite belt,” added the company in a statement.
“A large body of the Leinster granite was located in outcrop at Coolboy in the north of the licence block with other smaller bodies found extending south-west to Bunclody.”
POSITIVE
Chairman John Teeling said that the development showed compelling indications that lithium-bearing pegmatites might be present within the Mine River block.
“While our focus to date has been on gold it is long known that indications of lithium were present.
“The successful discoveries on licences close to our ground and the massive demand for lithium to drive the electric vehicle revolution led to this review.
“It is early days but positive news.”