Aim-listed lithium exploration and development company Atlantic Lithium, which is focussed on delivering Ghana’s first lithium mine, has announced assay results from the resource and exploration drilling programme currently under way at the Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana.

On August 2, Atlantic reported assay results for an about 2 900 m of additional reverse circulation (RC) drilling completed at the Ewoyaa Main and Grasscutter North targets, as part of the ongoing 37 000 m resource evaluation and exploration RC and diamond core drilling programme.

“We are pleased to report high-grade pegmatite intervals up to 69 m long below the Ewoyaa Main deposit and outside of the currently defined resource estimate. Furthermore, mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth,” Atlantic interim CEO Lennard Kolff said.

Broad, high-grade drill intersections returned at the Ewoyaa Main deposit included highlights of 69 m at 1.34% lithium oxide (Li₂O) from 129 m at GRC0667, 67 m at 1.2% Li₂O from 112 m at GRC0666, 59 m at 1.07% Li₂O from 125 m at GRC0670, and 59 m at 0.95% Li₂O from 113 m at GRC0669.

Newly reported drilling results fall outside the current Ewoyaa Joint Ore Reserves Committee- (Jorc-) compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) and extend mineralisation a further 75 m downdip at the Ewoyaa Main deposit, providing confidence in future resource growth potential.

Additional results have extended mineralisation a further 40 m west at the Grasscutter North target outside of the current resource, including 7 m at 1.16% Li₂O from 129 m at GRC0653, 4 m at 1.12% Li₂O from 96 m at GRC0654, and 9 m at 0.68% Li₂O from 157 m at GRC0655.

“Approximately 27 000 m of the planned 37 000 m programme at Ewoyaa has now been completed. Drilling is ongoing, with further assays pending and the programme targeted for completion this quarter,” Kolff said.

Atlantic announced a significant resource upgrade in March to 30.1-million tonnes at 1.26% Li₂O for the Ewoyaa lithium deposit, which represented a 42% increase from the previous MRE. This included a Jorc-compliant 20.5-million tonnes at 1.29% Li₂O in the indicated category.

“These latest assays continue to demonstrate the potential for resource growth outside of the current resource and for an extended mine life beyond the metrics of the scoping study reported in December 2021 and prior to the updated resource estimate . . . announced in March. 

“It is clear from Ewoyaa’s ongoing positive drilling results, available offtake capacity combined with the prefeasibility study targeted for completion in the third quarter, and our funding agreement with Piedmont Lithium, we are in an exceptional position to benefit from the continued global lithium demand,” Kolff concluded.