Diversified explorer and developer Premier African Minerals reports that recent drilling at its Zulu lithium and tantalum project, in Zimbabwe, has intersected multiple thick high-grade zones.

Assay results from drill hole ZDD075 revealed 1.29% lithium oxide and 62 parts per million (ppm) of tantalum pentoxide over 3.74 m, from 56.96 m below surface, while mineralisation of 0.92% lithium oxide and 36 ppm of tantalum pentoxide was recorded over 2.38 m, 61.14 m below surface.

Located 80 km from Bulawayo, the same drill hole also found mineralisation of 1.16% lithium oxide and 15 ppm of tantalum pentoxide over 3.89 m, 102 m below surface.

Premier CEO George Roach says these assay results are just a few of more than 2 000 outstanding assays.

“This finishes hole 75 and is typical of many of the holes intended to elevate the resource confidence level from inferred to indicated. Particularly pleasing are the multiple intersections that have passed through steeply dipping mineralised pegmatites,” he says.

Roach adds that the Zulu orebody is well suited to sensor-based sorting and the application of that technology is likely to improve overall mining efficiencies.

To date, the company has undertaken a six-hole initial drilling programme totalling 2 312 m, a 43-hole programme totalling 5 809 m for its preliminary economic assessment, a 101-hole programme totalling 23 377 m for its definitive feasibility study (DFS) and an ongoing six-hole programme totalling 888 m, also for its DFS.

In addition, Roach notes that good progress continues to be made with early mine build. “Site earthworks and camp construction are progressing well. Detailed civils design is expected to be completed by end-July.”

Meanwhile, Premier is nearing finalisation of an offtake agreement for products to be produced from the Zulu project.

Meanwhile, on June 24, Premier entered into a binding heads of terms with Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology to establish a large-scale pilot plant at Zulu to produce spodumene from the first quarter of 2023.