Over the past 15 months, Keliber has continued its exploration and resource drilling programme. Since the previous estimate, published in September 2019, an additional 11,413m have been drilled at the Rapasaari deposit, now totalling 48,133m. The resource drilling focused on the southern extension of the deposit, where most of the new resources have been defined. In addition, exploration and sterilisation drilling programmes were undertaken on a larger area, with an additional 9,000m drilled.
Considering all three categories, the mineral resources of the Rapasaari deposit are now estimated at 9.64 million tonnes with an average lithium oxide (Li2O) grade of 0.98 per cent. Based on the infill drilling, it was possible to successfully upgrade a portion of the previously inferred mineral resources to the indicated category, showing an increased confidence level of the estimate. Considering all three mineral resource categories, the increase is 17.4 per cent.
The total measured and indicated mineral resources of Keliber now total 13.69 million tonnes (previously 11.77). Including the inferred mineral resources, the total mineral resources are 15.62 million tonnes (previously 14.19). The average Li₂O grade of the company's combined mineral resources is 1.05 per cent.
"We are very pleased with the continued successful results we have obtained from the Rapasaari exploration programme. They are, once again, a good indication of the geological and resource potential of Central Ostrobothnia's lithium province. These mineral resource estimates will underpin an updated ore reserve estimate later this year and in parallel we will continue exploration activities in the Rapasaari and Syväjärvi areas," said Keliber CEO Hannu Hautala.
