Westar Resources Limited announced the completion of reconnaissance field programs, confirming the presence of fractionated pegmatite systems at the Mindoolah Project in the Murchison Region of Western Australia. The Mindoolah Project contains numerous historically mapped pegmatites that remain untested for LCT mineralisation. Reconnaissance soil and rock chip sampling completed by Westar and reviewed by independent pegmatite expert, Lily Valley International (LVI), confirm the historical mapping and presence of pegmatites.

Defined trends highlighting the potential fractionation sequence and potential for Li mineralisation can be traced over 4km and remain open along strike. In addition to the outcropping pegmatites, soil sampling supports the interpretation of buried pegmatites further highlighting the potential in the area. Westar plans further targeted mapping and sampling to define priority target areas ahead of a maiden RC drilling program.

Westar completed reconnaissance mapping and sampling at Mindoolah in late CY22 to verify 13 previously mapped pegmatite occurrences at the Project by previous tenure holders. Ten of the 13 pegmatite locations in the south-west of the tenure were verified and 3 additional pegmatite occurrences were observed at sites not previously recorded. Extensive, thin soil cover limited the ability to accurately map the extents of the pegmatite outcrops.

However, sporadic sub crop suggests either pegmatite continuity with a potential strike length of more than 4km or multiple discontinuous pegmatite intrusions beneath cover, which do not outcrop, as indicated by the soil sampling interpretation. Four lines of orientation soil samples (86 samples) were collected to determine the suitability of this technique in both locating buried pegmatites and aiding drill targeting towards areas of more highly fractionated pegmatites which potentially host Li mineralisation. These lines covered the northern portion of the mapped area.

Assay results and interpretations indicate Ta and Nb anomalism in the soil geochemistry forms a continuous NE-SW trend across the soils sample lines, which is consistent with the regional mapped geology and pegmatite outcrops trend. This consistency supports the notion that soil sampling can be used to indicate buried pegmatite bodies in the region, allowing more focused exploration. Of note in the soil sampling is the anomalous Li samples occurring offset to the anomalous Nb and Ta and predominantly in the area of outcropping pegmatites.

This is interpreted to represent Li surface depletion and the importance of pathfinder geochemistry in defining more fractionated units within the pegmatite and therefore priority drilling targets. A follow up rock chip sampling and detailed mapping program will be undertaken to advance the geological understanding of the pegmatite zonation. Targeted sampling of muscovite and microcline from pegmatite outcrops will be assayed to determine degree of fractionation using K/Rb and Nb/Ta ratios.

A concurrent soil sampling program will target infill around existing anomalies and extend test areas where pegmatites are interpreted to lie under a thin aeolian cover. These programs are planned to highlight pegmatite zonation with the intent of identifying zones of higher mineral fractionation and priority drilling targets. The Mindoolah Project consists of approximately 100km2 of tenure, located 70km north-west from the town of Cue in Western Australia, within the Murchison Mineral Field of Western Australia.

The tenement lies on the south-western end of the Weld Range and contains a sequence of felsic volcanics, several mafic units, BIF and granite, with lenses and dykes of pegmatite, aplite and quartz- feldspar porphyry. Extensive alluvial and open cut gold occurrences occur in the Mindoolah mining centre, and many historic workings are scattered throughout the tenements. Historical gold and base- metal exploration has mapped multiple pegmatite occurrences in the western project area that remain untested for LCT mineralisation potential.