Mauricio Target Pegmatite Trend Extends 167 Metres with Assays Pending

Pegmatite Continuity Advances Lithium Prospectivity

Perpetual Resources Ltd (ASX:PEC) has confirmed the presence of substantial pegmatite bodies across four trenches at the Mauricio Target within its Igrejinha Lithium and Caesium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The trenches reveal an interpreted continuous pegmatite trend extending approximately 167 metres, with thicknesses ranging from 2 to 11 metres, and the system remains open to the east, west, and at depth. This discovery marks a significant step in defining the geometry of the pegmatite system ahead of a planned drilling campaign in mid-2026.

The trenching program, which has completed about 196 metres of excavation so far, is focused around historical drillholes SEP003 and SEP004. These drillholes previously intersected lithium-bearing pegmatitic material with assays up to 0.4% Li2O during Perpetual’s maiden drilling program in 2025. The current trenching and soil geochemistry provide enhanced geological control and targeting vectors compared to the initial drilling phase, enabling a more refined understanding of pegmatite orientation and zonation.

Geological Reconnaissance Suggests Further Extensions

Beyond the trenches, additional rock chip sampling and geological reconnaissance west of trench TR04 have identified pegmatitic outcrops and historical artisanal workings, indicating a possible extension of the pegmatite trend for approximately 320 metres. Although this western extension remains untested by trenching or drilling, it could explain previously identified lithium anomalies within the broader Mauricio target area, highlighting the potential scale of mineralisation.

The pegmatites confirmed in trenches TR01 to TR04 display apparent thicknesses of roughly 10 metres, 3.6 metres, 11 metres, and 2 metres respectively. These widths are surface measurements, with true thicknesses yet to be determined. Over 40 channel samples have been collected and sent to SGS-Geosol Laboratories for analysis, with assay results expected in June 2026. The outcomes will be integrated with existing geological and geochemical data to sharpen drill targeting for the upcoming diamond drilling program.

Strategic Location Within Brazil’s Lithium Valley

The Mauricio Target lies adjacent to Sigma Lithium’s tenure, suggesting the pegmatite system may be part of a broader district-scale mineralised corridor within Brazil’s renowned Lithium Valley. This region hosts globally significant lithium deposits within the Araçuaí Orogen, a fertile province of LCT pegmatites rich in lithium and caesium.

Perpetual’s ongoing trenching campaign at Igrejinha builds on earlier soil geochemistry and drilling efforts, including the identification of a coherent lithium and caesium anomaly approximately 200 metres northwest of the historical drilling. This has provided a more robust vector towards potentially more fractionated and mineralised zones within the system. The current work is a continuation of systematic exploration efforts to unlock the project’s critical mineral potential, as previously outlined in the company’s detailed trenching campaign update and discovery of new pegmatite targets.

Early-Stage Results Tempered by Pending Assays

While the presence and continuity of pegmatites are encouraging, Perpetual cautions that assay results are still pending. These will determine whether the pegmatites contain economically significant concentrations of lithium, caesium, or other critical minerals. The current trenching has also encountered typical weathering profiles over mica schist host rocks, consistent with the company's exploration model.

Executive Chairman Julian Babarczy emphasised that the continuity observed across multiple trenches materially advances the understanding of the system. He noted that the scale and thickness of the pegmatites identified to date strengthen confidence in the Mauricio target’s prospectivity, but highlighted that further work is required to confirm mineralisation grades and economic viability.

Perpetual plans to complete the current trenching campaign and integrate assay results with existing datasets to refine drill targets. Diamond drilling is scheduled to commence in mid-2026, aiming to test the refined geological model and further delineate the pegmatite system’s extent and grade.