Additional High Grade Discoveries at San Domingo

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd

24 January 2024

 

24 January 2024

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd

("Bradda Head", "BHL" or the "Company")

Additional Near Surface, High Grade, Lithium Discoveries made at Morning Star Pegmatites in the San Domingo District Play

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd (AIM:BHL, TSX-V:BHLI,), the North America-focused lithium development group, announces further results from the Phase 2 core drilling at San Domingo ("SD"), Arizona. This is the third and final set of assays released from the Company's 18,950 feet (5,776m) programme, completed December 2, 2023 and focuses on the Morning Star and Morning Star South targets, located southwest of the Central Targets. The programme has delivered an abundance of encouraging results over the December holiday break.

Ian Stalker, Executive Chair, commented:

"As we reach the end of this current San Domingo drilling exploration program, our objectives have been met and indeed surpassed and, as a result our expectations heightened.  It is worth reflecting that total drilled metres at SD, from both programmes is only 13,076 meters, covering less than 1% of the total property. These were the first two drilling programmes of any note undertaken at this historic and road accessible lithium mining camp in the USA. In today's world the return on investment in these two campaigns has been substantial and we will build on this as we move forward. In other words, when the Lithium market bounces back, as we believe it will, we will be ready to maximise value from our total Lithium Portfolio including of course San Domingo. The strategic location in the USA of our 'ready to move forward projects' should not be discounted. America remains hungry for its own 'home produced lithium!!'

"Our portfolio of pegmatites are emerging as viable and potentially extractable near surface resources. The shallow and high-grade intercepts seen at Morning Star are very exciting and we look forward to building 3-D models that may lead to follow-up drilling later this year. The abundance of tantalum, tin, and beryllium are a bonus, potentially adding value to this maiden drill programme at Morning Star. The obvious LCT (lithium-caesium-tantalum geochemical signature, e.g., Kathleen Valley signature) style of mineralisation confirms our belief that we have a formidable district with massive upside potential."

"The fact that Morning Star contains high grade lithium as well as being rich in tantalum, beryllium, tin with massive zones of potassium feldspar means that we could have an exciting, diverse and economic deposit. We have more 3D modeling to explore and, given what we have discovered to date, this could significantly change the way we examine not only Morning Star, but the rest of the San Domingo pegmatite trend within our 33km² property."

"Parallel to our field work, and complements to our team that delivered these results, we have streamlined our corporate overhead. The net effect of this combined effort - business management and technical know how - means that despite a very poor Lithium market back drop we are now well placed financially and geologically to be able to move with speed and with our in-house skills to grow this investment opportunity. In the meantime, we continue with our 'steady as she goes' approach with no superfluous costs and intend to move back on the resource growth plan at Basin, Arizona."  

Summary:

·    High grade lithium mineralisation found at intervals such as 4.14m at 2.07% Li₂O at a depth of 54.56m in drill hole SD-DH23-104 and 5.40m of 1.70% Li₂O at a depth of 31.39m in 093, both at the Morning Star pegmatites (all holes are abbreviated from SD-DH23-)

·    Again, favoured coarse-grained spodumene crystals are observed as the dominant lithium mineral with minor amounts of lepidolite and montebrasite

·    Large, cohesive, and mostly vertical pegmatite bodies were verified at Morning Star, which were strongly zoned with massive quartz,  fine-grained albite, and minor schorl as well as massive zones of potassium feldspar

·    Pathfinder elements of tin, tantalum ("Ta₂O₅"), and beryllium ("BeO") are found to be highly anomalous in the drilling, such as 6.76m at 145ppm Sn in hole 100, 872ppm Ta₂O₅ with 0.23% BeO in drill hole SD-DH23-088 over 2.90m

·    Morning Star drill hole 088 contains high-grade Ta₂O₅ with an interval of 872ppm Ta₂O₅ ppm and anomalous tin over 2.90m at a depth of 39.26m and 477 Ta₂O₅ ppm over 5.34m at 75.74m depth

·    Lithium, plus the bonus of ore grade Ta₂O₅with discrete anomalous tin and BeO in the Morning Star drill holes in a shallow environment, bodes well for the potential of open cut mining.

Results from the Morning Star and South Morning Star targets are highlighted by the following intervals:

·    4.14m at 2.07% Li₂O in drill hole 104 at Morning Star

·    5.40m of 1.70% Li₂O followed by 4.18m of 1.63% Li₂O (within 14.63m at 0.54% Li₂O) plus 0.67m of 1.21% BeO, all above 55.93m depth in drill hole 093 at Morning Star

·    5.55m of 1.03% Li₂O in hole 099 at South Morning Star

·    6.67m at 0.82% Li₂O in drill hole 100 at South Morning Star

·    2.01m at 1.84% Li₂O in drill hole 091 at Morning Star

·    2.80m at 0.65% Li₂O in drill hole 090 at Morning Star

·    Morning Star surface samples of 4.35% and 3.67% Li₂O above holes 093 and 104 highlight open pit potential

·    Wide-open potential >100m depth, virtually unexplored by this second program and presents impressive opportunities district wide

Figure 1: Cross section through Morning Star, drill hole SD-DH23-093 and SD-DH23-104 high grade intercepts, surface samples up to 0.92% Li₂O

Drilling at Morning Star, located 1.0km southwest of the Central Targets, commenced in late October with holes 088 through 098 and 104 for a total of 12 holes totalling 2,159m. Most holes were drilled perpendicular to the main northeast trending and steeply dipping pegmatite bodies, all of which encountered variable amounts of pegmatite with visible spodumene and minor segments of lepidolite and montebrasite. Holes 093 and 104 contain the highest-grade intercepts with 5.40m at 1.70% starting at 31.39m followed by 4.18m at 1.63% Li₂O at 51.66m in hole 093, and 4.14m at 2.07% Li₂O at 54.56m followed by 4.57m at 1.12% Li₂O  at 66.75m in hole 104. Theses intercepts are compelling and justification to follow-up on the high-grade intercepts discovered in holes 093 and 104 with future exploration drilling. Notably, two surface samples near the collars of 093 and 104 returned 4.35% and 3.67% Li₂O, highlighting the potential connectivity with the subsurface drill hole samples and open cut potential.

Ta₂O₅ is highly anomalous at Morning Star, occurring with or without lithium mineralisation such as in hole 088 where there is 2.90m of 872 Ta₂O₅ ppm with 0.46% Li₂O and 0.23% BeO including 1.13m of 2,220 Ta₂O₅ represented as fine grained tantalite in drill core.

High potassium values are found as massive potassium feldspar with samples up to 12.00% K and an interval of 22.52m at 10.72% K identified drill hole 104, isolated above the lithium rich intervals at Morning Star. Further investigations into the potassium distribution are planned as this could be a viable source of potassium feldspar. 

Immediately to the south is South Morning Star where a mine exposes coarse grained spodumene crystals and was the target of holes 099 through 103, cutting multiple zones of lithium mineralization, see Figure 3 below for target location. Drill hole 099 intersected shallow mineralization with 6.69m of 0.58% Li₂O at 8.53m depth followed by 5.55m of 1.03% Li₂O at 31.03m. Hole 100 was drilled from the same site at a steeper angle (-75 degrees) and cut multiple intervals of lithium mineralization, again quite shallow highlighted by 3.04m at 0.68% Li₂O and 123ppm Sn at 16.50m depth, followed by 6.75m at 0.82% Li₂O and 145ppm Sn at 32.92m depth, both within 28.77m of 0.36% Li₂O and 91ppm Sn. New surface work will focus on collecting channel samples across the prospect that will contribute to expansion of this very shallow and potential open cut resource. 

Table 1: San Domingo, Morning Star and South Morning Star Drill Hole Highlights

Hole number	From (m)	To (m)	Int (m)	Li2O (%)	Sn (ppm)	Ta2O5 (ppm)		BeO (%)	Target
SD-DH23-088	28.80	31.09	2.28	0.41		620		0.06	Morning Star
	28.80	45.63	16.82	0.19		164
	39.26	42.15	2.90	0.46		872		0.23
	46.51	49.62	3.11			223
	48.77	49.62	0.85	0.49		259
	75.74	102.02	21.45	0.03
	75.74	81.08	5.34			477
SD-DH23-089	21.95	39.78	17.82	0.04
	29.32	32.31	2.98		80
	44.96	51.21	6.23		76	147
	48.01	50.9	2.89			298
SD-DH23-090	6.10	22.52	17.43	0.17	75	42
	6.10	10.82	4.73		116
	16.25	19.05	2.80	0.65	109	48
SD-DH23-091	43.28	55.17	7.45	0.06		91
	61.57	63.58	2.01	1.84		404
SD-DH23-093	5.64	11.67	6.04			151
	16.76	17.83	1.07	0.31
	31.39	40.39	8.99	1.20
with	31.39	36.79	5.40	1.70
	44.20	58.83	14.63	0.54	71
with	51.66	55.93	4.18	1.63	100	52			Morning Star
	78.64	83.39	4.75	0.04		82
SD-DH23-094	17.22	23.16	5.93	0.07
	52.12	53.80	1.68	0.89	80	80
	66.75	72.09	5.33	0.05
SD-DH23-095	68.64	72.24	3.6	0.04		62
SD-DH23-096	48.37	56.39	7.05	0.03
SD-DH23-097	75.29	76.23	0.94	0.12
	97.99	101.59	3.60	0.04
SD-DH23-098	78.46	90.22	11.75	0.05
SD-DH23-099	8.53	15.24	6.69	0.58	89	23			South Morning Star
	26.27	27.37	1.10	0.10	160	266
	31.03	36.58	5.55	1.03	99
SD-DH23-100	7.10	9.36	2.26			367
	10.91	39.68	28.77	0.36	91
with	10.91	13.11	2.20	0.64	81
plus	16.15	19.20	3.05	0.68	123
and	32.92	39.68	6.76	0.82	145
SD-DH23-100	5.03	6.71	1.68	0.49	55	48
SD-DH23-101	13.56	15.85	2.29	0.30	80	58
	18.80	20.85	1.37	0.12	58
SD-DH23-102	39.08	42.37	3.29	0.04
SD-DH23-103	7.32	14.02	6.70	0.07	77	41
SD-DH23-104	8.84	10.52	1.68	0.65					Morning Star
	54.56	58.70	4.14	2.07		67
	66.75	71.32	4.57	1.12	76	32
	71.32	77.69	6.36	0.10		149
	90.83	91.78	1.23	0.14

*All drill depths are from surface

Figure 2: San Domingo Project, Target Locations

Figure 3: Morning Star and South Morning Star drill holes, pegmatites, targets and land

To close out the programme, the Company drill-tested two distinct and unusually strong, soil geochemical anomalies (Li-Cs-Rb) with holes collaring in greenstone, but the source of the anomalies was not determined as no pegmatites were encountered. One hole was located to the northeast of Morning Star (see Figures 3) and the other on the Monster target (Figure 2), northwest of Jumbo.

For further information please visit the Company's website: www.braddaheadltd.com.

QAQC

Core samples were split on site and bagged with sample tracking tags. Samples were shipped by the Company directly to SGS Laboratories in Burnaby, B.C., Canada where SGS prepped then analysed all samples using sodium peroxide fusion combined ICP-AES and ICP-MS, method GE_ICM90A50. Certified standards were inserted into the sample stream and reviewed by the Qualified Person. Mr. Wilkins consents to the inclusion of the technical information in this release and context in which it appears.

Qualified Person (BHL)

Joey Wilkins, B.Sc., P.Geo., is Chief Operating Officer at BHL and the Qualified Person who reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release. Mr. Wilkins is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a B.Sc. in Geology with more than 38 years of experience in mineral exploration and is a qualified person under the AIM Rules and a Qualified Person as defined under NI-43-101. Mr. Wilkins consents to the inclusion of the technical information in this release and context in which it appears.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU No. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION.

ENDS

Contact:

Bradda Head Lithium Limited	[phone]
Ian Stalker, Executive Chairman Denham Eke, Finance Director
Beaumont Cornish (Nomad)	[phone]
James Biddle / Roland Cornish
Panmure Gordon (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Hugh Rich
Shard Capital (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Damon Heath / Isabella Pierre
Red Cloud (North American Broker)	[phone]
Joe Fars
Tavistock (Financial PR)	+ 44 20 7920 3150
Nick Elwes / Adam Baynes	[e-mail]

About Bradda Head Lithium Ltd.

Bradda Head Lithium Ltd. is a North America-focused lithium development group. The Company currently has interests in a variety of projects, the most advanced of which are in Central and Western Arizona: The Basin Project (Basin East Project, and the Basin West Project) and the Wikieup Project.

The Basin East Project has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 17 Mt at an average grade of 940 ppm Li and 3.4% K for a total of 85 kt LCE and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 210 Mt at an average grade of 900 ppm Li and 2.8% K (potassium) for a total of 1.09 Mt LCE. In the rest of the Basin Project SRK has determined an Exploration Target of 250 to 830 Mt of material grading between 750 to 900 ppm Li, which is equivalent to a range of between 1 to 4 Mt contained LCE. The Group intends to continue to develop its three phase one projects in Arizona, whilst endeavouring to unlock value at its other prospective pegmatite and brine assets in Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. All of Bradda Head's licences are held on a 100% equity basis and are in close proximity to the required infrastructure. Bradda Head is quoted on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker of BHL and on the TSX Venture Exchange with a ticker of BHLI.

Technical Glossary

Kt	Thousand tonnes
Ppm	Parts per million
Exploration Target	An estimate of the exploration potential of a mineral deposit in a defined geological setting where the statement or estimate, quoted as a range of tonnes and a range of grade (or quality), relates to mineralisation for which there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource.
Inferred Mineral Resource	That part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade (or quality) are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological grade (or quality) continuity. It is based on exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings, and drill holes.  An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to an Ore Reserve.  It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
Indicated Mineral Resource	That part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade (or quality), densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of Modifying Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.  Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings, and drill holes, and is sufficient to assume geological and grade (or quality) continuity between points of observation where data and samples are gathered.
Sn	Tin
Ta2O5	Tantalum pentoxide

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "intends to", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, following: The Company's objectives, goals, or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory, governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; future operating and capital costs, timelines, permit timelines, the market and future price of and demand for lithium, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the local levels of government; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDARplus. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.

 

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