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The Blackstairs Project is located in the Leinster Pegmatite Belt in the southeast of the Republic of Ireland, approximately 80 kilometres south from Dublin. Approximately nineteen pegmatite bodies spread over a length of 30 km along the eastern edge of the Leinster granite pluton make up this belt.
TNR has applied for eight licenses (totalling 292 km2), which cover the belt. This process takes from 4 to 6 months to complete before fieldwork can begin. Lithium was first located during base metal exploration in the 1970s by Irish Base Metals Limited. Since then pegmatite exploration has expanded to include tantalum although niobium, tin, cesium and even gold anomalies have also been noted.
Pegmatites in the Leinster Belt show a range of rare elements associated with them. The pattern of element distribution is consistent with successive enrichment and concentric zoning seen in pegmatites and illustrated in the diagram to the left. TNR intends to use this and other geochemical zonation as guide to ore and potentially additional pegmatite
discoveries.
Ireland has a lengthy history of miningand has attracted a number of major mining companies. It is recognized as a mining friendly jurisdiction. Access to the Leinster Pegmatite Belt is by a good road network used by nearby farming communities.
Stream sediment sampling by the Geological Survey of Ireland in 1986 - 1990 identified a number of catchment areas within the license application that have tantalum anomalies.
Since 2000, focus of exploration in the southern part of the license application -- south of Aclare, has been on tantalum. Outstanding recommendations from the last phase of exploration have yet to be acted on.
In 1970, 885m of drilling in the Aclare pegmatite by Irish Base Metals Limited was used to calculate a "drill indicated" reserve. Difficulties with laboratory results suggested that the estimate may be significantly low, but there appears to be no documentation of later work to resolve the issue.
Stranakelly was drilled with two holes in 1974 which intersected 1.4m of 2.34% Li and 5.5m of 1.6% Li. High tantalum values from a 7m pegmatite intersection in a trench were also reported, but poorly documented.
Moylisha was drilled in 1976 with five holes. The most significant result in these was 9.5m of 1.66% Li. As with other pegmatites at the northern end of the belt, lithium occurs as lepidolite. TNR intends to re-establish data from previous drilling and determine where additional step-out drilling is possible. TNR has a team of experienced geological staff ready to apply pegmatite exploration methods proven in Canada to Irish targets.
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