Xenora Minerals has identified a significant new lithium anomaly at its Dudley Lithium Project in South Australia, using improved geochemical sampling methods. The company plans to commence drilling in June 2026 to test these promising targets.
- Discovery of a new lithium anomalous zone termed 'Northern Pegmatite'
- Four-acid digest assay method outperforms previous MMI technique
- Highly anomalous lithium and associated elements confirmed in rock chip samples
- Plans for Reverse Circulation drilling scheduled for June 2026
- Further soil sampling to refine exploration targets underway
Expanding Lithium Prospectivity on Kangaroo Island
Xenora Minerals Limited (ASX – XRA) has announced encouraging new geochemical results from its Dudley Lithium Project, located on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Following a comprehensive review of 2025 soil sampling data, the company has identified a previously unrecognised zone of lithium anomalism, dubbed the 'Northern Pegmatite'. This discovery extends the known lithium-bearing pegmatite systems beyond the main Dudley Pegmatite, which has long been the focus of exploration.
The new anomalous zone was delineated through an extensive soil sampling program involving over 1,000 samples. Notably, the company employed a four-acid digest analytical method, which has demonstrated superior sensitivity and reliability compared to the earlier Mobile Metal Ion (MMI) technique, particularly in detecting lithium anomalies beneath the lateritic duricrust common in the area. This methodological improvement has led to a more robust geochemical footprint that aligns well with rock chip sampling results.
Confirming Lithium Mineralisation with Rock Chips
Complementing the soil data, 35 rock chip samples were collected across the project, including from the Dudley Pegmatite and the newly identified Northern Pegmatite area. The Dudley Pegmatite samples returned highly anomalous lithium concentrations, with some samples exceeding 1,300 ppm lithium (approximately 0.3% lithium oxide), alongside elevated levels of other rare elements such as rubidium, caesium, tantalum, and beryllium. These geochemical signatures are characteristic of fractionated lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites, which are prime targets for spodumene mineralisation.
The Northern Pegmatite area, while showing moderate lithium anomalism in rock chips (up to 50 ppm lithium), exhibits a broad soil geochemical anomaly extending under cover for up to 1,000 metres. This suggests the potential for significant subsurface pegmatite extensions that warrant further investigation.
Strategic Next Steps – Drilling and Further Sampling
Building on these promising results, Xenora plans to initiate a Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program in the June 2026 quarter. The drilling will target the Dudley Pegmatite and other anomalous zones identified through the enhanced soil sampling. The focus will be on testing pegmatite bodies beneath the weathered surface profile, where lithium mineralisation is expected to be preserved in fresh rock at depths of 20 to 30 metres.
In parallel, the company intends to conduct additional soil sampling using the four-acid digest method to reassess areas where previous MMI sampling yielded inconsistent or low-level anomalies. This approach aims to refine the understanding of the project's lithium prospectivity and potentially uncover new targets.
Context and Significance
The Dudley Lithium Project covers multiple pegmatite systems with a strike length exceeding six kilometres and surface thicknesses up to 80 metres. Historically, exploration has been limited by sparse outcrop and challenging weathering profiles, but the recent methodological advancements in geochemical analysis have revitalised the project's potential. Lithium is a critical mineral for the clean energy transition, and discoveries like this position Xenora to contribute meaningfully to the supply chain.
Managing Director Will Dix emphasised the significance of the findings, stating that the improved assay method has opened up new exploration avenues and that the upcoming drilling campaign will be pivotal in defining the project's mineralisation potential.
Bottom Line?
With a new lithium anomaly identified and drilling imminent, Xenora Minerals is poised to advance Dudley’s exploration story significantly.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling confirm economically viable lithium mineralisation at Dudley?
- How extensive is the Northern Pegmatite zone beneath the lateritic cover?
- Could the four-acid digest method reveal additional lithium targets previously overlooked?