Exploration and development company Atlantic Lithium has announced the discovery of spodumene pegmatite in outcrop and float in the Agboville and Rubino exploration licences, in Côte d’Ivoire, which are held by its wholly-owned subsidiary Khaleesi Resources, as well as the delineation of significant lithium-in-soil anomalies from soil sampling completed within the Rubino licence.

“The discovery of spodumene pegmatite at both of the company’s Agboville and Rubino licences represents a momentous occasion for Atlantic Lithium’s first low-cost exploration campaign in Côte d’Ivoire,” CEO Keith Muller acclaims.

High-grade lithium assays up to 1.25% lithium oxide were returned from rock-chip sampling completed at the Agboville and Rubino licences.

Assay results from outcrop and float confirm the company’s visual spodumene observations and demonstrate the significant prospectivity of the two licences, the company points out.

It says “impressive” results were also returned from the Phase 2 soil sampling programme completed at the Rubino licence, which have identified pronounced lithium anomalies over a 2.5 km by 2 km area.

Lithium-in-soil anomalies remain open towards the north-east, where the company awaits results of the Phase 3 soil sampling programme.

The two contiguous licences are situated within the same broad geological setting which hosts the company’s flagship Ewoyaa lithium project, in Ghana, and other spodumene pegmatite deposits in Mali.

The low-cost exploration programmes are under way in Côte d’Ivoire to extend the company’s lithium exploration activities beyond Ghana for the first time.

Atlantic says it will apply its proven ability to explore, discover and evaluate lithium deposits in tropical weathering environments, as demonstrated at Ewoyaa, to its licences in Côte d’Ivoire.

Exploration of the Côte d’Ivoire licences will run concurrently to the advancement of Ewoyaa; intended to support the company’s broader spodumene production ambitions in Africa.

“Having been granted the licences in May 2024, the programmes at Agboville and Rubino extend the company’s lithium exploration activities beyond neighbouring Ghana, where the company is advancing its flagship Ewoyaa lithium project through the permitting phase to become one of the next globally-significant spodumene mines,” Muller highlights.

“These encouraging results mark an exciting milestone for Atlantic Lithium’s exploration efforts in Côte d’Ivoire, where the company aims to discover Africa’s next major lithium deposit,” he adds.

The company’s primary focus remains on progressing Ewoyaa towards a final investment decision; however, it says the Agboville and Rubino licences represent an attractive opportunity for value creation through low-cost exploration and strategic diversification into multiple jurisdictions, Muller explains.