Arcadia (ASX:AM7) reports key advances across Namibian battery metal projects in Q1FY23

Highlights

• Arcadia Minerals (ASX:AM7) made further progress at its suite of projects targeting lithium, tantalum, nickel, copper, and gold during the September quarter.
• The cyclone test work at the Bitterwasser Lithium in Clays Project has indicated a 28% grade increase.
• AM7 reported a 560% increase in lithium resources for Bitterwasser as part of an updated inferred JORC mineral resource estimate of 286,909t Li₂CO₃ (Lithium carbonate Equivalent, LCE).
• Drilling encountered visual mineralisation at the Karibib Cu-Au Project.
• Arcadia secured essential water and power supply services for the Swanson Tantalum Project.

Diversified exploration company Arcadia Minerals Limited (ASX:AM7, FRA:8OH) progressed with top-notch development activities across its suite of Namibian projects during the three-month period ended 30 September 2022.

The September quarter or Q1 FY23 brimmed with exciting explorational endeavours including 

• Cyclone test work at the Bitterwasser Lithium in Clays Project indicating total lithium recovery of 89.6%.
• Updated Inferred JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) defined over Eden Pan at Bitterwasser representing an increase of nearly 560%
• Drilling at the Karibib Copper-Gold Project encountering visual mineralisation in majority of the holes drilled
• Essential utility supply agreement completion and definitive feasibility study remaining on track for the Swanson Tantalum Project

Bitterwasser Project – 560% increase in lithium resources

The quarter saw Multotec Process Equipment (Pty) Ltd wrapping up cyclone test work, designed to delineate the possibility of separating the fine clay fraction of < 10μ fraction from the remaining larger material, mainly comprising calcite, dolomite, and quartz. The aim was to check whether separating can enhance the lithium grade in the leach feedstock from Bitterwasser clay ores.

The results indicated a grade increase of 28% in feedstock and overall lithium recoveries of 89.6%.

The results reported the following points:

(Source: © 2022 Kalkine Media®, data source: company update, 28 October 2022)

Leach test work: The company also conducted initial leach test work using six organic and sulphuric acids. The outcomes highlighted the similarity in Organic acid 1 trend and that of Sulphuric acid at 25⁰C; however, it outperformed sulphuric acid at 60⁰C with 1 hour leach time.

The organic acid reflected leach recoveries of 82% of lithium within one hour at a temperature of 60⁰C.

The company is currently proceeding with the second phase of leach test work to select an acid for conducting bulk leach test work.

During the quarter, the company also reported an Updated Inferred JORC Mineral Resource Estimate defined over Eden Pan. The update reflected approximately 560% increase in lithium resources or 85.2 million tonnes @ 633ppm for 286,909t Li₂CO₃ (Lithium carbonate Equivalent, LCE).

Visual mineralisation encountered at Karibib Copper-Gold project

Arcadia completed a 551m reverse circulation drilling program comprising ten holes at the Karibib Copper-Gold Project.

The campaign delivered visual mineralisation in eight of the ten holes, owing to which the company drilled an additional hole to intersect mineralisation at a deeper depth.

A total of 240 samples taken from mineralisation containing lithologies were dispatched to Scientific Services in Cape Town, South Africa, for assay, with results expected to be received by November.

(Source: Company update, 28 October 2022)

Drill targets identified at the Gamikaub prospect have been drilled. Also, Simmons Geophysics has been executing a ground-borne electromagnetic survey at the Gamikaub prospect area to delineate detailed structural features associated with the mineralisation.

The company believes that these results may help to refine the geological setting understanding of Gamikaub and identify additional drill targets.

Essential water and power supply secured for Swanson Tantalum Project

Arcadia’s subsidiary Orange River Pegmatite (Pty) Ltd (ORP) secured essential water supply of 210 cubic metres every day from Namibia Water Corporation Limited. Moreover, NamPower confirmed transmission of up to 2.7MVA power without violations.

Through a land use compensation agreement with Tantalite Valley Estates, ORP gained rights to entry, access and establishment of mining operations within the Mining License area.

Arcadia also highlighted that a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Swanson Tantalum/Lithium Project.

AM7 shares traded at AU$0.26 on 3 November 2022.