New Mozambique Lithium Assets
ASX Announcement 25 March 2019
- 2 new lithium assets secured in the Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Province in Mozambique
- First ASX listed company to enter Mozambique for hard rock lithium
- The Licenses contain historical beryl, tantalite and rareelement mineral mines
- Large license areas with potential multiple pegmatite clusters
- Outcropping pegmatites have significant potential, which can be realized through modern lithium-focussed exploration
- Northern Mozambique has well-developed infrastructure coverage for mining
- Mozambique is a pro-mining jurisdiction
Lithium Consolidated Mineral Exploration Ltd (“Lithium Consolidated”, “Li3” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has successfully secured 2 new, granted lithium exploration licenses in the Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Province in northern Mozambique (the “Mozambique Assets”) (see Figure 1) and is the first ASX listed company to enter Mozambique for hard rock lithium.
The Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Province (“ALPP”) contains a large concentration of pegmatites in Mozambique, including many examples of Lithium Caesium Tantalum (“LCT”) family of pegmatites, which have been mined since the 1920’s.
Mozambique was the world’s second largest beryl producer in the 1960’s, but the lithium-bearing minerals were not exploited during the beryl and tantalite mining.
The Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Province has:
- Pegmatites famous for their gemstones, rare-element minerals such as beryllium, tantalum and niobium, and for being a source of rare and unique mineral specimens.;
- limited modern day exploration of potentially flat-lying pegmatites with open-pit mining potential for lithium and tantalum;
- additional potential for unidentified LCT pegmatites in the vicinity of previously mined pegmatites;
- a number of abandoned historical workings which may have early, small-scale lithium and tantalum production potential allowing for quick start-up; and
- the potential for delineation of larger, pegmatite hosted lithium mineralisation through systematic exploration.
The ALPP’s current exploration maturity is analogous to that which existed in the Pilbara and Yilgarn Craton pegmatites of Western Australia, approximately 10 years or so ago, prior to the modern lithium-based exploration, which resulted in the definition of large lithium resources in the Pilgangoora, Wodgina, and Earl Grey pegmatites.
Northern Mozambique has well-developed infrastructure coverage for mining. The Mozambique assets are in close proximity to the Mocuba – Nampula main road, a sealed, all weather road. The recently upgraded Nacala railway corridor connects Nampula to the natural deep-water port of Nacala, which is the principal port for the export of coal from mining operations at Moatize.
Commenting on the new Licenses in Mozambique, Shanthar Pathmanathan, Managing Director of the Company said:
“We are well on the way to consolidating our land position in northern Mozambique, which we believe will emerge as a globally significant lithium province. Our goal is to have a major share of lithium supply from Mozambique.”
QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT PERIOD ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2018
ASX Announcement 31 January 2019
- Odzi West Project is the newest addition to our portfolio of hard rock lithium exploration projects in Zimbabwe
- 50 Licenses granted for 8 new hard rock lithium projects in Zimbabwe
- Due Diligence is continuing at the Bepe and Kondo Mines in Zimbabwe
- New hard rock lithium License Applications in Mozambique
Lithium Consolidated Limited (ASX: LI3) (“Lithium Consolidated” or the “Company”) is pleased to report on its activities in the December 2018 quarter, including on our expansion strategy into hard rock lithium in Africa.
Our portfolio consists of:
- 50 granted Licenses for 8 new hard rock lithium projects in Zimbabwe;
- New hard rock lithium License Applications in Mozambique;
- the Tonopah Lithium Project in Nevada, USA, which is the premier lithium brine exploration project in North America; and
- 16 hard rock lithium Licenses in Western Australia.
The Company is focused on establishing a dominant position in hard rock lithium in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
1. African Hard Rock Lithium
The Company has secured new Licenses at the Odzi West lithium project, which is the newest project to be added to our portfolio of seven (7) existing lithium exploration projects in the Mutare Greenstone Belt (“MGB”), in eastern Zimbabwe.
The Company now has eight (8) hard rock lithium exploration projects in Zimbabwe.
The Company has applied for six (6) lithium exploration licenses in the Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Province of northern-central Mozambique.
1.1. Zimbabwe – exploration projects
During the December 2018 Quarter, the Company was granted 21 new Licenses in the MGB in eastern Zimbabwe, including 11 new Licenses which form part of Odzi West hard rock lithium project and 10 new Licenses to consolidate our position over the previously announced, Bepe and Day Dawn lithium exploration projects, in eastern Zimbabwe.
The Odzi West project is the newest addition to the seven (7) previously announced hard rock lithium projects in eastern Zimbabwe.
The Company now has eight (8) lithium exploration projects in the Mutare Greenstone Belt, comprising 50 granted Licenses and 9 Licenses under application over a total area of 2,543 ha.
The Zimbabwe projects are ideally located and proximal to operational infrastructure. The Zimbabwe projects are 300km from the port of Beira in Mozambique and approximately 60km from the Mutare Railhead on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, which is connected to the port of Beira in Mozambique by the operating Mutare-Beira railway line.
Figure 1 Mutare Greenstone Belt – Location and Infrastructure
Odzi West: New Hard Rock Lithium Project
ASX Announcement 11 December 2018
Zimbabwe Hard Rock Lithium
- 21 new Licenses granted in eastern Zimbabwe
- Odzi West lithium project secured through the grant of 11 new Licenses in eastern Zimbabwe
- 10 other Licenses granted at the Bepe and Day Dawn projects, which are now covered by granted Licenses
- The Company now holds 59 licences which comprise 8 hard rock lithium projects in the Mutare Greenstone Belt in eastern Zimbabwe with
- Odzi West lithium project secured, further to our increasing knowledge on the hard rock lithium potential in the Mutare Greenstone
- The Mutare Greenstone Belt has at-or-near surface pegmatites with undeveloped lithium potential and which are exposed at surface through outcrops or historical workings (for tantalite or other pegmatitic minerals)
Lithium Consolidated Ltd (“Lithium Consolidated”, “Li3” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that we have been granted 21 new Prospecting Licenses (the “Licenses”) in eastern Zimbabwe and through this we have secured the Odzi West hard rock lithium project in eastern Zimbabwe, which comprises 11 of the newly granted Licenses in eastern Zimbabwe.
We have also been granted 10 other Licenses at the Bepe and Day Dawn projects to consolidate our position over the previously announced, Bepe and Day Dawn lithium exploration projects (see Figure 2).
The company has a total of 59 Licenses covering an area of 2,543 ha in the Mutare Greenstone Belt in eastern Zimbabwe (see Figures 1 and 2), with 50 granted Licenses covering an area of 1,590 ha and 9 License applications, which are pending grant and which cover an area of 953 ha.
The Odzi West lithium project was secured further to our increasing knowledge of the hard rock lithium potential in the Mutare Greenstone Belt pegmatites, based on our initial exploration activities.
Odzi West Lithium Project
The Odzi West Project comprises 11 of the newly granted Licenses and is located at the south-western end of the Mutare Greenstone Belt (see Figure 1). There are at least seven clusters of artisanal workings on distinct, separate pegmatites here with historical reports documenting the presence of spodumene in one area of moderately extensive workings, and petalite in another area of workings. Image analysis indicates that the pegmatites could be moderately extensive as several appear to be flat-lying, with near surface sheet-like configurations. The artisanal and historical workings have produced beryl and tantalite in the past and appear to be inactive at present. Overall, there are encouraging indications of prospects worthy of further evaluation for their lithium and tantalum potential, with several of the clusters of artisanal workings within the newly granted licences.
Bepe and Kondo Mines Due Diligence Commencement
ASX Announcement 30 August 2018
Zimbabwe Hard Rock Lithium
- Bepe and Kondo Mines acquisition due diligence process has commenced
- Potential spodumene mineralisation identified at surface and in underground workings at Bepe Mine
Lithium Consolidated Mineral Exploration Ltd (“Lithium Consolidated” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has commenced a due diligence process at the Bepe and Kondo mines in Zimbabwe (the “Mines”).
Further to the Company’s ASX Announcement on 6 August 2018 of the potential acquisition of the Bepe and Kondo Mines, and subject to satisfactory results from the due diligence process, the Company will acquire a 100% interest in:
- The Bepe Mine through the Bepe Special Mining License (Registration No.: M4740BM) (the “Bepe Mine”); and
- The Kondo Mine through three (3) Mining Licenses: Mwami ‘L’ (Registration No.: 40832BM), Jerejoga ‘20’ (Registration No.: 27976BM), Kondo 9 (Registration No.: 25988BM) (the ”Kondo Mine”), (collectively the “Mining Licenses”).
The due diligence process will be undertaken in two (2) phases:
- Phase 1: Site visit, including field reconnaissance sampling and mapping; and
- Phase 2: Analysis of assay results, and Competent Person’s site visit.
The main objective of the due diligence process will be to verify the presence of lithium mineralisation and, if possible, determine the approximate size of the pegmatites at the Mines.
The due diligence process is expected to be completed in approximately six (6) weeks.
Bepe Mine: Preliminary Findings
The Company’s preliminary investigations at the Bepe Mine have been very encouraging. The pegmatite at Bepe Mine has a strike length of ~180 m, an apparent width on surface of ~30 m and dips to the southwest at between 40° and 60°. The pegmatite is hosted in an amphibolite which has a well-developed fabric. Three zones have been identified surrounding the massive quartz core: the inner intermediate zone; the outer intermediate zone; and the wall zone.
Potential spodumene is observed at surface, usually weathered, in float and outcropping pegmatites as well as in underground workings.
The Bepe Special Mining Licence, combined with our existing Bepe Prospecting Licences, establishes a controlling position in the Bepe Pegmatite Field (see Figure 2). The presence of a further six (6) lithium assets in the area suggests a strong case for lithium exploration in the Mutare Greenstone Belt.
Recent exploration drilling of LCT pegmatites in the Bepe Pegmatite Field, adjacent to the Company’s licences, has resulted in a best intersection of 50.7 m at 3.4 % Li2O (hole DDT2/2B)1 .
