Arizona Lithium has obtained permit of exploration (POE) from the US BLM for its Big Sandy Lithium Project in Arizona.

The BLM’s approval allows the company to commence a drilling and bulk sampling programme at the project, scheduled for July 2024.

The planned drilling programme will be managed by Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) under the mining services agreement signed earlier this year.

This programme will include 131 drill holes and a bulk sample, targeting the expansion of the current lithium resource.

Arizona Lithium's Big Sandy Project, which has seen only 4% of its area drilled to date, presents a substantial opportunity for resource expansion.

The forthcoming drill programme is designed to test the validity of the exploration target.

Arizona Lithium managing director Paul Lloyd said: "We are extremely pleased to have received approval from the Bureau of Land Management for the long awaited follow up drill programme at Big Sandy in Arizona. This represents a substantial development opportunity for a deposit that presently contains a JORC resource of 320,800 tonnes LCE5.

“With only 4% of the project drilled to date, we are looking to expand the existing resource and validate the exploration target.

“We look forward to working with BLM, NTEC and all stakeholders to ensure the drilling programme is successfully executed with minimum environmental impact.”

Located east of interstate I93 between Phoenix and Las Vegas, the Big Sandy Lithium Project has a flat-lying, sedimentary-hosted lithium resource.

Spanning around 25km², the project consists of 300 BLM claims.