Charger Metals NL (“Charger”) has initiated RC drilling operations at its Lake Johnston Lithium Project (“Lake Johnston”) in Western part of Australia. This phase of exploration is funded under a farm-in agreement with Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (“RTX”). The agreement underscores RTX's commitment to advancing the project through financial support, highlighting Charger's strategic approach to leveraging partnerships for the development and exploration of lithium resources in the region.

Charger's Managing Director, Aidan Platel, expressed enthusiasm about the commencement of their RC drill programs at Lake Johnston. The focus is primarily on the Medcalf Prospect, where a high-grade spodumene system has been confirmed previously. Additionally, Platel highlighted their anticipation for drilling at the Mt Gordon Prospect, which shows promising lithium potential. He emphasized the company's commitment to transparency by promising to keep stakeholders informed as results from these drilling activities become available.

RC drilling programs spanning up to 5,000 meters are slated to investigate priority lithium targets at both the greater Medcalf Prospect and the Mt Gordon Prospect. At the greater Medcalf Prospect, the drilling initiative aims to explore potential extensions along the mineralized strike where high-grade lithium mineralization has previously been identified in spodumene-bearing pegmatites from past campaigns. Furthermore, it will focus on a 1.2-kilometer strike of surface-exposed spodumene-bearing pegmatites trending southwest from the main Medcalf mineralization, where rock chip samples have indicated lithium oxide content of up to 4.2%.

Meanwhile, at the Mt Gordon Prospect, RC drilling will target expansive soil anomalies exceeding 100 parts per million lithium oxide, extending over 3 kilometers and reaching into the adjacent Jaegermeister Lithium Prospect delineated by TG Metals Ltd.

The comprehensive drilling campaign is projected to span 6 to 8 weeks for completion, contingent upon results and potential weather-related delays.

The Lake Johnston Lithium Project is strategically situated 450 kilometers east of Perth, within Western Australia's Yilgarn Province. Lithium prospects are concentrated along a 50-kilometer corridor running along the southern and western margins of the Lake Johnston granite batholith. The  exploration efforts target high-potential lithium and tantalum assets, including the Medcalf Spodumene Prospect, Mt Gordon Lithium Prospect, and expansive sections of the Mount Day LCT pegmatite field.

Notably, the project lies approximately 70 kilometers east of the substantial Earl Grey (Mt Holland) Lithium Project, where Covalent Lithium Pty Ltd, managing a joint venture between subsidiaries of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. and Wesfarmers Limited, commenced mining operations and initiated the commissioning of a concentrator in March 2024. Mt Holland is recognized as one of Australia's largest hard-rock lithium projects, boasting Ore Reserves for the Earl Grey Deposit estimated at 189 million tonnes grading 1.5% Li2O.