Lithium Plus Minerals Limited retracts previous pricing statements on its Arunta Lithium Projects while revealing significant high-grade beryllium mineralisation at its Northern Arunta Spotted Wonder Project, highlighting new strategic opportunities in critical minerals exploration.
- Retraction of prior pricing statements due to lack of reasonable basis
- Discovery of high-grade beryllium mineralisation at Spotted Wonder Project
- Beryllium mineralisation closely associated with lithium intersections
- Identification of multiple new drill-ready pegmatite targets
- Exploration activities scheduled to commence in Q3 2025
Retraction and Reassessment
On 6 June 2025, Lithium Plus Minerals Limited (ASX – LPM) issued a critical update retracting previous statements regarding pricing valuations for its Arunta Lithium Projects. The company acknowledged that the pricing information previously disclosed lacked a reasonable basis and advised investors to disregard those figures in their decision-making. This move underscores the challenges in early-stage valuation of mineral projects, especially in emerging critical minerals sectors.
Simultaneously, Lithium Plus provided a comprehensive update on its exploration progress at the Spotted Wonder Project, part of its 100%-owned Northern Arunta tenure in the Northern Territory. A detailed reassessment of drill core from the Delmore pegmatite has revealed significant high-grade beryllium mineralisation, a discovery that broadens the project's polymetallic potential beyond lithium.
Beryllium – A Critical Mineral with Strategic Importance
Beryllium is a rare, lightweight metal prized for its exceptional thermal stability, strength-to-weight ratio, and electrical conductivity. It is classified as a critical mineral by multiple global jurisdictions, including Australia, the United States, the European Union, and others, due to its strategic applications in nuclear technology, aerospace, defence, and high-performance electronics.
The Spotted Wonder Project's beryllium mineralisation starts near surface, with notable intersections such as 12 meters at 0.10% beryllium oxide (BeO) from surface and other significant intervals up to 0.28% BeO. These findings are closely associated with lithium mineralisation, including reverse circulation drill intersections of up to 0.29% lithium oxide (Li2O) over 4 meters, suggesting a polymetallic system that could offer multiple development pathways.
Exploration Outlook and Regional Potential
Beyond Delmore, Lithium Plus has identified several new drill-ready pegmatite targets at the Polonis, Costean, and Saunders prospects within the Northern Arunta region. The company plans to initiate on-ground exploration activities in the third quarter of 2025, aiming to delineate the extent of beryllium and lithium mineralisation and evaluate the economic viability of polymetallic extraction, potentially through flotation methods.
Executive Chairman Dr Bin Guo emphasised the strategic significance of the discovery, noting that the polymetallic nature of the Spotted Wonder Project enhances the value of Lithium Plus's Northern Arunta tenure. He highlighted the global recognition of beryllium as a high-value critical commodity and expressed optimism about unlocking the full potential of this emerging district through upcoming exploration efforts.
Geological and Technical Context
The Spotted Wonder Project lies within the Mesoproterozoic Aileron Province, characterized by LCT-type pegmatites enriched in beryllium and lithium. The recent drilling program, conducted between 2016 and 2018, employed reverse circulation techniques with comprehensive sampling and assay protocols verified by accredited laboratories. The mineralisation is hosted in pegmatite dykes with variable thicknesses and is associated with coarse beryl crystals identified in rock chip samples.
While the true widths of mineralisation remain to be confirmed, the downhole intersections provide a promising indication of the deposit's potential. The company’s methodical approach to sampling, logging, and quality control lends credibility to the reported results, setting a solid foundation for future resource estimation and development studies.
Bottom Line?
As Lithium Plus pivots from valuation uncertainties to exploration advancement, the market will watch closely for how this beryllium-lithium discovery reshapes its critical minerals strategy.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the next steps to confirm the economic viability of beryllium extraction at Spotted Wonder?
- How will the retraction of pricing statements affect investor confidence and company valuation?
- What potential does the broader Northern Arunta region hold for additional critical mineral discoveries?