Exploration company Firering Strategic Minerals has announced the successful completion of its extensive Phase II soil sampling programme at its Atex lithium/tantalum project, in Côte d'Ivoire.

Starting on January 9, the Phase II programme was carried out in collaboration with mineral exploration and development company Ricca Resources, following Ricca's $18.6-million investment to advance Atex to the definitive feasibility study (DFS) stage, as previously disclosed on November 2 last year.

This soil sampling initiative encompassed a total of 14 116 soil samples, which were collected, prepared and dispatched to Ghana for analysis. The samples were subject to evaluation using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and laser-induced breakdown spectrometry.

The results for batches one to seven and a portion of batch eight, totalling 6 205 samples, have already been received and plotted. These findings have led to the discovery of several new and interconnected pegmatite anomalies within the Atex licence area.

Firering CE Yuval Cohen said on May 30 that the confirmation of these anomalies further strengthened the identified areas of interest for future auger drilling activities.

In the following weeks, the final soil analysis and mapping will be concluded to refine the auger drilling programme. This step will allow the company to fine-tune its exploration efforts and optimise the identification of potential mineral deposits.

In addition to the progress made in soil sampling, specialist mineral processing laboratory Coremet has submitted its initial draft report for the coltan test work. The report highlights a positive response to magnetic separation and gravity concentration techniques, indicating promising outcomes for the project.

“Coremet's test work indicated that the material can be concentrated and resulted in an initial flowsheet for a gravity plant,” Cohen said.