Andrada Mining has identified further high-grade lithium mineralisation at its Lithium Ridge project in Namibia, with the latest drilling confirming continuity across the pegmatite system and highlighting additional areas for potential resource expansion. Exploration is continuing under an earn-in agreement with Chilean lithium producer SQM, which is funding work at the project.
The latest results include an intersection of 34.90 metres grading 1.02% Li₂O, with a higher-grade interval of 6.22 metres at 1.67% Li₂O. Another drill hole returned 10.66 metres at 1.13% Li₂O, including 4.79 metres at 2.04% Li₂O. A separate intersection recorded 9.03 metres grading 1.64% Li₂O. The results represent the fifth batch of results from the current drilling campaign.
Drilling Confirms Pegmatite Continuity and Additional Targets
Andrada reported that the latest 23 mineralised drill holes support the continuity of the Lithium Ridge pegmatite system. The drilling has also indicated structural thickening in certain parts of the deposit, providing further information for ongoing geological interpretation. Exploration has identified additional lithium-bearing pegmatites beyond the main mineralised trend. These occurrences could expand the area requiring investigation and contribute to future resource growth as drilling progresses.
The presence of tin and tantalum mineralisation alongside lithium in parts of the system adds another element to the project’s geological profile. These minerals could potentially provide by-product credits, although their economic contribution will depend on the results of further metallurgical work and confirmation that they can be recovered commercially.
SQM Partnership Supports Continued Exploration
Lithium Ridge is being advanced through an earn-in partnership with SQM, the Chilean lithium producer. The arrangement provides exploration funding and reduces the direct financial burden on Andrada while bringing an experienced industry partner into the project.
The latest drilling strengthens the geological basis for continued exploration, but individual high-grade intersections do not establish the size or economic viability of a future mining operation. The results must be assessed in the context of overall mineralised tonnage, grade distribution and continuity across the deposit. Further drilling will be required to determine the extent of the lithium-bearing pegmatites and establish whether the mineralised system can support a larger resource.
Resource Definition and Metallurgical Testing Remain Key
The next stages of work at Lithium Ridge will focus on resource definition and metallurgy. Andrada needs to establish how much of the identified pegmatite system could support economic recovery of lithium into concentrate and whether associated tin and tantalum could contribute materially to project margins.
The project remains at the exploration stage, with its future development dependent on continued resource growth and the results of metallurgical evaluation. The latest intersections provide additional geological information, while further work will determine whether the mineralisation can be converted into an economically recoverable resource. For SQM, the project represents part of its developing African lithium portfolio. Its longer-term significance will depend on the scale of the resource that can be defined and whether testing demonstrates competitive recovery performance.
