Global Battery Metals Ltd. has recently completed a detailed remote sensing and structural study of the Knockeen dyke swarm and the regional area of the Leinster Lithium project. This study, conducted by local geological expert Dr. Francis Murphy of Murphy Geological Services, has identified 25 new exploration targets. The study, the first of its kind in the region, along with the ongoing development of a 3D spatial model of the dyke swarm and associated structures being drilled at Knockeen PL1597, will help guide the identification of additional pegmatite dykes in the near term and future drilling efforts. The study will also support further lithium exploration across the project and the creation of new targets.
The remote sensing structural study encompassed a 6,000 km2 study area covering the company’s North and South license blocks, including the lithium drilling program area at the Knockeen prospect. Satellite imagery from Sentinel-2, which offers substantial resolution more than twice that of other satellites, was utilized in conjunction with other geographic information system (GIS) datasets, including aerial magnetic data from the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), detailed rock substrate mapping from GSI, historical regional geochemistry from GSI, and prospecting and lithogeochemical data from GBML-LRH. The combined results of the study confirmed key structural features throughout the Leinster massif that are interpreted as being associated with the flow of mineralizing fluids, which are crucial to the anatectic model for the location and emplacement of lithium-bearing pegmatites.
The main East Carlow deformation zone (ECDZ), which crosses several licenses in the northern block and specifically targets Tonygarrow and Aghavannagh, has been further defined through this work. Interpreted segments of this structure also traverse several other company licenses, particularly the Scurlocks, Sorrell, and Knocknaboley target areas. The work has also provided extensions of all of these structural corridors, which can now be part of a targeted ground exploration program.
On the southern block, a historically partially mapped structural feature along PL 1597 has been confirmed by this study and can now be interpreted as a significant structural embayment of the primary East Carlow deformation zone, passing south of the Blackstairs granite pluton. This feature has been named the North Wexford deformation zone (NWDZ) and represents a second highly promising trend that will be the focus of ground exploration activities.
Several target areas have already been identified for detailed prospecting and mapping. The drilling program at Knockeen has completed eight holes (DDH-23-1597-01 to DDH-23-1597-08) for a total of 1,761 meters, with a ninth hole (DDH 23-1597-09) currently underway (estimated final depth of 250 meters). Multiple phases of pegmatite, particularly lithium-bearing spodumene pegmatites, have been intersected in all holes to date.
Logging and sampling of the holes is ongoing, with some of the sampled intervals currently at the laboratory and others still being processed. All data and results from the first eight drill holes will be synthesized and presented together, allowing for a comprehensive, accurate, and thoughtful interpretation of the intersections and providing a more holistic view of the dyke swarm geometry. Detailed structural data is being collected from the drill cores using the cutting-edge Reflex EZ-Trac Single Shot downhole core orientation tool. Once back in the logging facilities, the oriented core from the drill rig is then logged for its structural components using an IMDEX STRUCTURAL-IQTM Solution tool as part of the core logging process. This approach enables the positioning of the pegmatites and their exact orientations in relation to all other structural components related to the emplacement of the pegmatite dyke swarm. So far, over 5,000 structural elements have been recorded to be imported into Seequent’s 3D modeling software, LeapFrog. This will allow for a better visualization of the detailed structural regime and kinematics of the pegmatite dykes in the drilled area, as well as the geometry of the different phases of the pegmatites.
Petrographic analysis of samples of lithologies, mineralization, and alteration from the drill cores is also underway to aid in the interpretation of the metallogenetic development of the mineralizing system.
Source: S&P Capital IQ – 2023