Raiden Uncovers High-Grade Lithium at Andover South, Eyes Larger Southern Corridor
Raiden Resources has reported promising high-grade lithium mineralisation in its maiden drilling at Andover South, while identifying a potentially larger, untested Southern Corridor target for future exploration.
- Maiden diamond drilling completed with 7,041m across 28 holes
- Two distinct pegmatite systems defined: NW and E-W trending
- High-grade lithium (>2% Li2O) confirmed in Target Areas 1 and 2
- No significant lithium mineralisation in Target Area 7
- Focus shifts to untested Southern Corridor structural target
Maiden Drilling Program Delivers Key Insights
Raiden Resources Limited (ASX: RDN) has released the final assay results from its inaugural diamond drilling campaign at the Andover South Lithium Project in Western Australia's Pilbara region. The program, comprising 28 drill holes totaling 7,041 metres, has successfully delineated two separate pegmatite systems with distinct structural orientations.
The drilling identified a north-west trending pegmatite system in Target Area 7 and an east-west striking system spanning Target Areas 1 through 4. While the northwest system exhibited large pegmatite bodies, it failed to deliver significant lithium mineralisation, with assays showing no meaningful Li2O grades. In contrast, the east-west system in Target Areas 1 and 2 revealed encouraging high-grade lithium mineralisation exceeding 2% Li2O, a benchmark that signals potential economic viability.
Structural Interpretation Points to Larger Mineralised System
Raiden’s geological team, led by Managing Director Dusko Ljubojevic, highlighted that the mineralisation encountered in the east-west system likely represents the periphery of a more extensive, yet untested, structural corridor to the south, dubbed the 'Southern Corridor'. This target, identified through magnetic data and surface pegmatite outcrops on tenement E47/4061, may host the primary structural framework responsible for the lithium mineralisation observed in the drilled areas.
The Southern Corridor remains inaccessible for drilling due to pending Aboriginal heritage clearances, but it has been prioritised for upcoming exploration activities including detailed field mapping, sampling, and eventual drill testing. This corridor’s orientation and geological setting bear similarity to the nearby Andover lithium deposits operated by Azure Minerals, suggesting a promising exploration analogue.
Future Exploration Strategy and Broader Portfolio Context
Raiden plans to leverage the maiden drilling results to refine its structural targeting approach, focusing on delineating the main mineralised structures beneath sediment cover. Concurrently, exploration efforts will expand to the Andover North Lithium Project, where initial mapping and sampling aim to identify additional pegmatite targets.
Beyond lithium, Raiden maintains a diversified portfolio with interests in gold, copper, nickel, and platinum group elements across Australia and Eastern Europe. The company is also awaiting results from joint venture drilling at the Arrow gold and Mt Sholl copper projects, which could complement its lithium exploration progress.
Technical Rigor and Data Integrity
The drilling program employed industry-standard diamond core techniques with high core recovery rates exceeding 99%, ensuring sample representativity. Assays were conducted using peroxide fusion followed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS, with rigorous quality control protocols including certified standards and duplicates. Structural measurements and magnetic data integration underpin the ongoing geological modelling efforts.
While the maiden drilling did not uncover the ideal combination of width and grade, the confirmation of high-grade lithium zones and the identification of a compelling new structural target provide a solid foundation for Raiden’s next phase of exploration.
Bottom Line?
Raiden’s maiden drilling confirms high-grade lithium zones and sets the stage for targeting a potentially transformative Southern Corridor.
Questions in the middle?
- Will heritage clearance delays impact the timeline for Southern Corridor drilling?
- What is the potential scale and grade continuity of lithium mineralisation within the Southern Corridor?
- How will upcoming JV drilling results at Arrow and Mt Sholl influence Raiden’s capital allocation?