Piedmont Lithium has become the latest US miner to use Micromine modelling to refine its resource estimation – reporting a massive 47% estimate increase in the process.
The company is on track to own the USA’s largest spodumene orebody, located in the Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt in North Carolina, after increasing the mineral resource estimate to 27.9 million tonnes at grading 1.11% lithium oxide, with further drilling to come.
An estimated 74% of the mineral resource is located within 100 metres of surface, while some 97% of the resource lies within 150 metres of surface.Wireframe models of some 95 pegmatite dikes, a diabase dike and one fault were created in Micromine by joining polygon interpretations made on cross sections and level plans spaced at 40 metres.
Weathering profiles, representing the base of saprolite and overburden, were modelled based on drill hole geological logging and a topographic digital terrain model was derived from a 2003 survey.
Micromine’s intuitive and highly powerful wireframing module enables very accurate models to be created that can be further analysed and interpreted to produce a precise estimation that aligns with industry codes of practice and standards.
The news comes on the back of a global lithium demand surge, driven by a growing battery market powering for everything from tools and electronics to vehicles and off-grid energy storage.
Piedmont Lithium expects to complete their pre-feasibility level metallurgical test work program, followed by a scoping study update, in July 2019.
