Critical minerals explorer Stelar Metals has closed the acquisition of mining tenements comprising the Trident Lithium project in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

The tenements have been transferred from the NSW Government to Stelar Metals as part of the deal signed in February 2023, whereby the latter agreed to acquire a 90% stake in the Trident Lithium Project near Broken Hill, NSW.

The Trident project extends over the 15km-long Euriowie Pegmatite Field, which is prospective for hard-rock lithium mineralisation.

Historic tin mining over the past 100 years and previous lithium mining and exploration at the Trident project uncovered lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite outcrops.

Furthermore, high-grade lithium assays from rock-chip samples confirmed lithium-rich LCT-type pegmatite classification, the company noted.

Stelar Metals CEO Colin Skidmore said: “Completion of the acquisition of our new Trident Lithium Project now enables Stelar to ramp up hard-rock exploration. Planning of Stelar’s inaugural lithium drilling programme is also under way and expected to commence late next quarter.

“It is looking to be a very exciting period ahead of Stelar.”

In May 2023, Stelar Metals signed an agreement with SensOre whereby the latter agreed to apply new geochemical and geophysical techniques to identify lithium-bearing pegmatites on Stelar Metals’ projects.

Later in the same month, SensOre acquired high-resolution geophysical data over the Euriowie Pegmatite Field. The company then completed positive ground-truthing over the known lithium-bearing pegmatites at Trident, Lady Don and Triumph.

Stelar is planning to start surface sampling and mapping next month. It is seeking approvals to begin an initial drilling programme in Q3 2023.

The programme aims to confirm pegmatite orientation and lithium fertility prior to embarking on more comprehensive drilling to assess lithium resource potential.