Multi-element explorer Future Battery Minerals (ASX:FBM) has staked 36 new claims contiguous to the Western Flats and Lone Mountain prospects within its Nevada Lithium Project in the US.

The company reports the new claims lie along the western margin of the 2 prospects, increasing Future Battery Minerals’ opportunity to find additional mineralisation at the project.

Future Battery Minerals reports the new claims will be drill tested in an upcoming phase two reverse circulation (RC) drilling program set to begin in the first week of June 2023.

The company reports the 3,000m reverse circulation (RC) drilling program aims to extend the known lithium claystone horizon intercepted in drillhole WF23-011 at the Western Flats prospect, which terminated within mineralisation. This hole intercepted 109.7m @ 766 parts per million (ppm) lithium from 135.6m downhole and hosted a ‘high-grade’ portion of 29m @ 1,010ppm lithium.

Based on regional mapping observations, Future Battery Minerals’ geological team believes there is a ‘high’ potential for the shallow mineralisation to extend south and west onto the Lone Mountain prospect, which the company believes could add ‘large-scale’ mineralisation from this style of deposit at both prospects.

Future Battery Minerals also plans to drill the regional Heller prospect, where 2-4 RC drillholes will test the stratigraphy for lithium claystone potential.

Commenting on the upcoming drilling program, Future Battery Minerals Technical Director Robin Cox says: “Following the outstanding results of the NLP phase one RC drilling program in April 2023, FBM’s in-country team has worked expediently to reach this drill-ready stage.

With permitting now approved, we look forward to commencing drilling within the next 2 weeks. In addition to planning and preparation works, the team has staked highly prospective ground contiguous to Western Flats and Lone Mountain.

“With permitting now approved, we look forward to commencing drilling within the next 2 weeks”

The plus-100m-thick intercept at WF23-011 remains open to the south and west at depth and, given the hole ended in mineralisation, provides the potential for the NLP prospects to host large-scale, high-tonnage mineralisation.”

Future Battery Minerals reports the phase two RC drilling program will be managed by the company’s in-country team with assistance from the Western Australia-based technical team.

The company also notes it has again engaged Alford Drilling, who completed the phase one drilling program at the project, for phase two. For this next phase of drilling, Alford will provide a larger RC rig, as planned depths have increased due to the intersection recorded in WF23-011 reaching the previous drill rig’s depth limitations.

Future Battery Minerals is an ASX-listed battery metals explorer focused on lithium, nickel, and copper across its assets in Australia and the US. In Western Australia, the company holds the Kangaroo Hills Lithium Project, along with the Nepean, Saints, and Leinster Nickel projects.

The company also holds the Arden, Bonaventura, and Torrens East Copper projects in South Australia, as well as the Nevada Lithium Project in the US.

Write to Harry Mulholland at Mining.com.au

Images: Future Battery Minerals Ltd