Phase 2 soil sampling program at Atex lithium-tantalum project complete
The second phase soil sampling program at Atex lithium-tantalum project in Côte d’Ivoire is complete. Firering Strategic Minerals announced the achievement made and said the soil sampling program revealed several new pegmatite anomalies across the Atex license area, confirming areas of interest for follow-up auger drilling.
A total of 14,116 soil samples were analyzed using portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometry (LIBS), with results for batches 1 to 7 and part of batch 8 (6,205 samples) already received and plotted.
Draft report
The final soil analysis and mapping are expected to be concluded in the coming weeks, which will further refine the auger drilling program. Additionally, Coremet has submitted its first draft report for the coltan test work, indicating a positive response to magnetic separation and gravity concentration. This justifies the development of an initial flow sheet for a gravity plant to evaluate recovery.
Stuart Crow, the Non-Executive Chairman of Ricca Resources, expressed his satisfaction with the early results of the soil sampling program. He mentioned the identification of pegmatite anomalies and new target areas for auger drilling. Crow also highlighted the positive response to magnetic separation and gravity concentration in the coltan test work. He expects to receive the remaining results from the soil sampling program and provide further updates on the progress of the project in the future. Ricca Resources has an agreement with Firering and is earning-in up to 50% of Atex and the adjacent alliance exploration license by funding the project towards production.
