London Stock Exchange-listed firm, AfriTin Mining, says its exploration activities in Namibia have confirmed the presence of significant lithium, tin and tantalum mineralisation.
The exploration programme on its ML133 licence, located about 35 km from the company’s flagship Uis tin mine, started in the fourth quarter of 2021 and conducted over a 12-month period, included aerial surveys, regional and high-resolution geological mapping, and surface chip sampling.
AfriTin said the programme targeted outcropping pegmatites, many of which were found to contain lithium, tin, and tantalum.
“We are especially excited about these initial exploration results. It confirms our belief that the pegmatites of the ML133 licence could contain significant lithium, tin and tantalum mineralisation. We intend to advance the next stage of our work programme over this area, including exploration drilling and initial metallurgical test work,” Afritin CEO Anthony Viljoen said.
“Proximity of the test area to the Uis Mine, which is our operating facility with comparable types of mineralisation, presents potential development synergies. AfriTin’s portfolio of operating and exploration assets in Namibia underpins our goal of becoming a major producer of technology metals. We believe the prospectivity of our tenements justify accelerating the exploration and development programmes aimed at realising near-term value for our stakeholders.”
More than 100 pegmatites were outlined by detailed geological mapping over the licence areas of about 3,200 hectares.
Chip sample results included: 13 metres (m) at 1.93% lithium oxide, 0.10% tin, and 36 parts per million (ppm) tantalum; 24m at 1.65% lithium oxide, 0.15% tin and 52 ppm tantalum; and 20m at 0.97 % lithium oxide, 0.12% tin, and 172 ppm tantalum.
The weighted average of the 20 highest lithium grade sample lines combined provided 200m at 1.25% lithium oxide, AfriTin said.
AfriTin’s 50-hole drilling programme at Uis aims to increase the confidence of the existing lithium and tantalum mineral resource estimates over the deposit. The programme comprises 29 diamond and 21 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes.
A total of 49 holes have already been completed and are being processed. The results of 20 previous holes were announced in June, July and October.
This comes as AfriTin plans to raise N$854 million to fully fund its lithium and tantalum production at the Uis mine in Namibia after metallurgical test work results show the successful production of a petalite lithium concentrate, indicating the potential for a lithium byproduct at the Uis Mine.
The concentrate is expected to meet demand from premium glass and ceramics manufacturers and be suitable feedstock for battery-grade lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide converters, the company stated.
AfriTin Mining is an African technology metals mining company with a portfolio of mining and exploration assets in Namibia.
