Charger Metals Launches Rio Tinto-Funded Drilling at Lake Johnston Lithium-Gold Project

Drilling Program Underway

Charger Metals NL has commenced a significant Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling campaign at its Lake Johnston Lithium and Gold Project in Western Australia. The program, spanning approximately 3,000 metres, targets six priority lithium and gold prospects, including five at the Mt Gordon area and the Whitten Lithium Caesium Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite target at Mt Day. This marks a critical step in advancing exploration efforts in a region known for its rich mineral potential.

The drilling is fully funded by Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (RTX) as part of a $1.1 million exploration budget for 2025, under a farm-in agreement that allows Rio Tinto to earn up to 75% ownership by funding exploration and feasibility milestones. Charger Metals is managing the program, leveraging Rio Tinto’s financial backing to accelerate resource definition and discovery.

Building on Recent Resource Milestones

This drilling initiative follows Charger’s recent announcement of a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource estimate at the Medcalf Lithium Deposit, quantified at 8.2 million tonnes grading 1.0% lithium oxide (Li2O). Adjacent to Medcalf, the Medcalf West Exploration Target has been defined with a conceptual range of 3 to 5 million tonnes at 1.0% to 1.4% Li2O, though further drilling is required to confirm this potential.

Mt Gordon’s targets are particularly compelling, defined by lithium-in-soil anomalies with overlapping gold and niobium signatures, as well as structural features interpreted from geophysical data. Historical shallow drilling has revealed gold mineralisation near surface, suggesting the possibility of deeper, blind gold systems yet to be tested. The Whitten target at Mt Day is notable for outcropping LCT pegmatites with rock chip samples grading as high as 3.84% Li2O, underscoring its high-grade potential.

Strategic Regional Context

Lake Johnston sits within the prolific Yilgarn Craton, a region renowned for lithium and gold deposits. It lies approximately 70 kilometres east of the Earl Grey (Mt Holland) Lithium Project, one of Australia’s largest hard-rock lithium operations. Nearby, Core Lithium’s Finniss Project and Blackbeard Prospect demonstrate the area’s ongoing exploration vitality, with Core recently making a strategic investment in Charger Metals.

Charger’s partnership with Rio Tinto and the commencement of this drilling program reflect a broader industry trend of major miners investing in junior explorers to secure future supply of critical battery metals. The results from this campaign could significantly enhance the resource base at Lake Johnston, potentially positioning Charger as a key player in Australia’s lithium and gold sectors.

Looking Ahead

As drilling progresses, investors and analysts will be watching closely for assay results that confirm or expand the known lithium and gold mineralisation. Success here could trigger further investment and development activity, while also validating the strategic farm-in partnership with Rio Tinto. Charger’s Managing Director Bryan Dixon highlighted the potential for a “next significant discovery” in the Yilgarn Craton, signalling confidence in the project’s upside.