Pilbara Minerals (PLS) has confirmed its place among the world’s top-tier hard-rock lithium assets by delivering a significant mineral resource upgrade at its Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia.
A 104,672m drilling program underpinned the upgrade, with 364 holes drilled across more than 7km of strike. The central extension area revealed higher-grade mineralisation and revised economic extraction criteria lifted the overall grade from 1.15 to 1.28 per cent lithium oxide.
“The significant uplift in the Mineral Resource reaffirms our 100 per cent owned Pilgangoora Operation as one of the world’s largest and highest-quality hard rock lithium assets. This outcome is aligned with our strategy to optimise the operating base and unlock the full potential of this world-class asset, driving long-term value for our shareholders,” PLS managing director and CEO Dale Henderson said.
The updated Pilgangoora resource has grown to 446 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.28 per cent lithium oxide, 122 parts per million tantalum pentoxide and 0.59 per cent iron oxide, now containing 5.7Mt of lithium oxide and 120 million pounds of tantalum pentoxide.
This marks a 23 per cent jump in contained lithium, driven by a 10 per cent increase in tonnage and a 12 per cent improvement in grade compared to the June 2024 Pilgangoora resource estimate.
Measured and indicated resources now stand at 376Mt at 1.29 per cent lithium oxide, hosting 4.8Mt of lithium oxide and 99 million pounds of tantalum pentoxide, representing a 14 per cent increase on previous figures.
PLS noted strong upside potential remains, with mineralisation open along strike including at the bridge zone between the central and north areas.
Exploration activity has since been scaled back as part of broader cost-saving measures.
