(Sharecast News) - Bradda Head Lithium unveiled the final results from its core drilling operations at the San Domingo Central target area in Arizona on Tuesday.
The AIM-traded firm said the drilling, completed on 2 December, marked the second of three sets of assay results from its extensive 18,950-foot programme.
Key highlights included a 7.28-metre intercept at 1.27% lithium oxide in hole SD-DH23-069, beginning at a depth of 27.43 metres at White Ridge, as well as a 5.18-metre intercept at 0.88% lithium oxide in hole SD-DH23-072, also at White Ridge.
The firm also highlighted a 5.06-metre intercept at 0.49% lithium oxide in hole SD-DH23-083 at Joker, as well as a 2.17-metre intercept at 0.58% lithium oxide with 92 parts of tin per million at Jumbo.
A 26.52-metre intercept at 0.27% beryllium oxide was also reported, including 4.44 metres at 0.40% beryllium oxide and 0.02% lithium oxide in hole SD-DH23-075 at White Ridge.
Notably, hole SD-DH23-037 at Jumbo, 400 metres southwest of hole SD-DH23-069, encountered a significant 9.54-metre intercept at 1.85% lithium oxide, underscoring the high grades and shallow depth of lithium mineralization.
The company said the drilling revealed shallow lithium mineralised intercepts, with 90% of significant intercepts occurring at depths of less than 100 metres.
Pegmatites at White Ridge hosted a significant 7.28-metre section with 1.27% lithium oxide, while hole SD-DH23-072 intersected 5.18 metres at 0.88% lithium oxide at 23.77 metres.
Spodumene was identified as the primary lithium mineral, with minor amounts of lepidolite.
Crystal size was identified as a key factor affecting overall lithium content and recovery methods, with coarser spodumene showing better preservation.
Anomalies of elements like tin, tantalum and beryllium were observed in the Central Target Area, including a notable 0.40% beryllium oxide result with 118 parts of tantalum pentoxide over 4.44 metres in SD-DH23-075, along with a broader 26.52-metre section at 0.27% beryllium oxide.
Elements such as tantalum, tin, beryllium, rubidium, caesium and niobium consistently showed strong anomalies within or around the best lithium intercepts, providing valuable guidance for exploration and interpretation.
The company said the findings, coupled with prior near-surface drill hole intercepts, suggested the potential for open-pit development once further drilling confirmed mineable resources.
It said the shallow nature of mineralisation made a compelling case for continued exploration.
"These results support our view of a near-surface potential spodumene lithium resource in the Central section of our San Domingo (SD) property," said executive chairman Ian Stalker.
"The results complement and add to the previous reported results in the same area.
"We have known spodumene mineralisation at both Midnight Owl in the north of our SD property and have now added additional near surface intercepts in the Central section."
Stalker said the company had been working throughout the year to interpret the data which he was confident would be a springboard to the next programme.
"We are encouraged by this second phase of exploration drilling, continue to be excited for the future at SD, and look forward to the next and final set of results from this drilling programme.
"It also needs to be noted that the nature of the mineralisation encountered to date is simple and shallow; no deep drilling has been undertaken, although this will be considered at a later stage of our company's development.
"Deeper drilling may indeed reveal less mobilisation of the lithium due to weathering and, as a result, broader zones of mineralisation."
At 1535 GMT, shares in Bradda Head Lithium were up 9.06% at 1.75p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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