Chariot Resources has confirmed the presence of spodumene, a key lithium-bearing mineral, in all six of its high-grade samples from the Fonlo and Iganna projects in Nigeria. These findings bolster the company's position in southwest Nigeria, where it is acquiring a 66.67 per cent interest in a four-project lithium portfolio. The identification of spodumene, described as a "simple, recoverable" hard-rock lithium source, is considered a significant development for the company's operational ambitions.
Test results from the samples did not identify lepidolite, another lithium mineral. However, the work did detect pollucite, a caesium-rich mineral, with one sample from Iganna assaying 9.5 per cent of the substance.
Chariot Resources, listed on the ASX under ticker CC9, stated that these results enhance its geological understanding of the Fonlo and Iganna sites. They are intended to provide a more concrete technical basis for forthcoming metallurgical testwork. The company has indicated that further systematic work, encompassing metallurgy, geology, and drilling, is necessary to ascertain mineralisation continuity, recovery rates, and the potential scale of these projects.
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The company is in the process of securing a majority stake in these projects, which are explored for lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatite systems. These systems hold the potential for spodumene and other critical minerals. Previous site visits had already verified substantial, drill-ready pegmatite systems within both project areas, reinforcing the geological promise of Chariot's broader Nigerian lithium holdings, which span four clusters across Oyo and Kwara States.
At Iganna, Chariot's geological teams observed multiple pegmatite sills near the surface. One such lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite, located close to the surface, measured between five and 10 metres in thickness and extended for several hundred metres along its strike. Artisanal mining activities were also noted in the Iganna area. Similarly, at the Fonlo project, artisanal workings were found to extend approximately six kilometres along strike.
