Arkle confirms lithium in all samples collected from Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
By Josh White
Date: Tuesday 25 Feb 2025
(Sharecast News) - Arkle Resources confirmed the presence of lithium in all samples collected from its exploration licences in Botswana's Makgadikgadi Salt Pans on Tuesday.
The AIM-traded firm said the results marked a "significant step" in the company's three-stage exploration programme, with findings supporting the potential for a broader lithium resource within its 937 square kilometre licence area.
It said the preliminary sampling identified lithium in all 20 surface samples, though at lower grades.
Arkle said it believed higher concentrations could be located elsewhere within its extensive licence area.
Additionally, the results revealed significant magnesium content, with eight samples containing over 1% magnesium.
The discovery would enhance the project's economic potential, as magnesium could be extracted alongside lithium through direct lithium extraction (DLE), a process that was more efficient and cost-effective than traditional methods.
Following initial assessments, Arkle said it was preparing for a shallow drilling programme to test brine deposits at depths of up to 30 metres.
That, the board said, would provide bulk samples for further analysis.
The next phase of exploration would focus on evaluating lithium grades while also incorporating a new emphasis on magnesium.
Magnesium had been designated a critical material by the United States, and was in increasing demand with global consumption expected to grow by 7% annually.
The material's use in batteries, electric vehicles, and aerospace applications, combined with China's current dominance in global production, positioned Arkle's discovery as a potentially valuable future resource.
"I am very pleased to report these results - we expected to find Lithium traces in the brines, and we have in all samples," said chairman John Teeling.
"The grades in these samples from one part of the pans near the edge are low, but lithium grades can vary significantly over an area and remember we have access to 937 square kilometres of ground.
"What is seriously interesting is the widespread presence of good grades of magnesium above 1%."
Teeling said modern extraction methods were making magnesium an asset, noting that eight out of 20 samples had grades above 1%.
"Also within the licence on the edge of the pan is mapped ultrabasic rock; ultrabasic rocks are known to contain a very high magnesium content which may be the source of the high levels of magnesium noted in the brines.
"It is important to note that exploration for brines is cheaper than hard rock - holes are typically less than 30 metres deep. The ground is flat, and access is easier.
"We now need to plan and execute a defined grid drilling programme."
At 1232 GMT, shares in Arkle Resources were up 2.15% at 0.33p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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