Charger Metals, funded by Rio Tinto, launches extensive WA drilling targeting lithium, gold, and niobium in previously unexplored prospects.
Charger Metals is gearing up for a substantial reverse circulation drilling campaign at its Lake Johnston lithium and gold project, located in Western Australia. This ambitious exploration initiative comes as the company has secured all necessary regulatory approvals and is set to focus on two key prospects within the broader project area: Mt Day and Mt Gordon. While Charger Metals will oversee the management and execution of the drilling operations, the funding for the program will be provided entirely by Rio Tinto Exploration under a farm-in agreement, highlighting a strong collaborative effort between the two entities.
The planned drilling campaign is designed to cover up to 29 holes, targeting six high-priority lithium zones that have not previously undergone systematic drilling. A particularly significant component of the program involves six drill-holes at the Whitten lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite target. These holes are set to reach depths of up to 1,080 meters, probing a part of Mt Day that has demonstrated a substantial lithium-in-soils anomaly, suggesting strong potential for mineralization.
Beyond Mt Day, the remainder of the drilling program, consisting of up to 23 holes, will concentrate on five additional priority target areas across the Mt Gordon prospect. These sites have been selected based on indications of lithium, gold, and niobium from soil sampling, as well as structural features inferred from geophysical studies. The approach demonstrates a highly targeted strategy, combining both geochemical and geophysical data to pinpoint areas most likely to host commercially viable lithium deposits.
This drilling initiative comes on the heels of Charger Metals’ recent announcement of its maiden inferred resource estimate for the Medcalf lithium deposit within the project. The deposit has been estimated at 8.2 million tonnes, containing approximately 1 percent lithium oxide, establishing a strong foundation for further exploration and potential expansion.
The drilling campaign is slated to begin in early October, with an anticipated duration of four to six weeks. Charger Metals’ managing director, Bryan Dixon, emphasized that all seven targeted areas are already known to exhibit lithium-in-soils anomalies, reinforcing the rationale behind their selection for drilling.
Dixon also highlighted the strategic advantage of the partnership with Rio Tinto Exploration, noting that the major mining company’s sole funding of the program allows Charger to manage exploration activities countercyclically. He underscored the potential benefits to Charger shareholders, expressing optimism about the forthcoming drill results and the broader prospect of uncovering a significant new lithium discovery within the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia—a region already renowned for its mineral-rich geology.
This collaboration between Charger Metals and Rio Tinto represents a calculated, high-potential effort to advance lithium exploration in one of Australia’s premier mining jurisdictions, combining technical expertise, strategic funding, and methodical exploration techniques.
