Kali Metals Unveils Exceptional 16.7% SnO2 Tin Grades at Sweetwater Prospect

Exploration Breakthrough at Sweetwater

Kali Metals Limited (ASX: KM1) has announced a significant milestone in its Southern Lachlan Fold Belt tin-lithium projects with exceptional tin assay results from its Sweetwater Prospect in New South Wales. The latest rock-chip sampling campaign returned tin oxide (SnO2) grades as high as 16.7%, an impressive figure that underscores the prospect’s potential as a high-grade tin resource.

These results come from 14 new rock-chip samples, 11 of which exceeded 1% SnO2, accompanied by notable concentrations of tantalum (up to 380ppm) and niobium (up to 580ppm). The tin mineralisation now extends over a cumulative strike length of 3.9 kilometres, marking a 50% increase from the 2.0 kilometres mapped just two months prior in December 2024. Outcrop widths vary up to 20 metres, indicating substantial surface expression of the mineralised system.

Geological Context and Mineralisation Style

The tin mineralisation at Sweetwater is associated with cassiterite, the primary economic tin mineral, occurring within greisen alteration zones, quartz veins, and pegmatitic veins hosted in Ordovician sediments adjacent to Silurian two-mica S-type granite intrusions. Multiple mineralised trends have been delineated, including the Mullengandra, Keogh, McLurg’s, Giant Pegmatite, and Hunter-Parsons trends, each contributing to the expanding footprint of tin mineralisation.

While rock-chip sampling provides valuable reconnaissance data, Kali Metals cautions that these point samples may not fully represent the average grade due to potential nugget effects inherent in cassiterite mineralisation. The company plans to address this by confirming mineralisation continuity and defining average grades through more systematic exploration methods.

Advancing Exploration at Mt Cudgewa

In Victoria, Kali Metals is progressing exploration at the Mt Cudgewa Tin Prospect within tenement EL7786. A recent high-resolution airborne LiDAR survey has revealed numerous historical tin workings from the early 1900s, providing a detailed ground model beneath dense forest cover. This has informed the design of an extensive soil sampling campaign comprising 880 sample locations across three zones targeting historical workings, possible mineralisation extensions, and distal tin-bearing structures.

The soil sampling program is underway and expected to conclude by March 2025, with assay results anticipated in May. These efforts aim to identify new targets and refine the understanding of tin mineralisation in the area, potentially setting the stage for future drilling.

Strategic Outlook and Next Steps

Managing Director Paul Adams highlighted the dual exploration fronts as a major positive development for Kali Metals. The company is focused on confirming the continuity of tin mineralisation at Sweetwater and evaluating the broader potential of its Southern Lachlan Fold Belt projects. Upcoming activities include detailed geological mapping, trenching, and the design of preliminary drilling programs to better quantify the resource potential.

Kali Metals’ portfolio, spanning nearly 4,000 square kilometres across NSW and Victoria, positions it well within Australia’s premier tin and lithium provinces. The combination of high-grade tin results, accessory critical minerals, and advanced geophysical surveys underscores the company’s commitment to unlocking value from these strategically important resources.