Bradda Head Lithium Limited (AIM:BHL, OTCQB:BHLIF, TSX-V:BHLI) said assay results from the first five holes of the 2023 Basin East Extension (BEE) drill programme in Arizona included the highest grades seen so far across the whole deposit.

The junior added the results confirm that lithium-bearing clay continues and thickens to the west, northwest and north into its BEE lease, a trend expected to lead to a significant resource expansion in the second half of the year.

Bradda Head has 25 holes planned for BEE, with the five assays returned so far and the best results indicating lithium clays across widths of more than 60 metres and over 900 to 1,000 parts per million (ppm).

Charles FitzRoy, chief executive, commented: "These assay results are very encouraging and are showing higher grade and greater upper clay zone thickness than previously encountered at Basin.

“We expect a significant resource upgrade from this programme in the second half of this year.

"The analysis of holes 5, 6 and 7, which are the first holes Bradda has ever drilled to the north of the creek, is particularly exciting as it indicates the presence of a completely intact clay sequence which has been preserved by a basalt layer; meaning that the lithium-bearing clays at Basin East extend across the creek and open up significant resource expansion potential.

“The assays for hole 5 support our blue-sky model for what we forecast at BEE and on to Basin West.”