Bradda Head Lithium Ltd said it has completed the first hole of its current 30-hole San Domingo pegmatite exploration programme in Central Arizona.

The company has confirmed significant intersections of spodumene-bearing pegmatite in this first hole.

The hole intersected multiple different pegmatite bodies across the 262 metres of core, including a 13 metres pegmatite intercept.

Visible lithium-bearing minerals identified include spodumene and lepidolite.

To confirm mineralogy X-ray diffraction was carried out on eight samples from the intersections, identifying spodumene and lepidolite in all. Full assays are in progress and will be reported when received.

The total programme will consist of 7,000 metres of diamond core drilling, and Bradda expects the total drilling component to be finished in the fourth quarter of this year.

Drilling had been due to start in late July but, due to extreme seasonal rains in Arizona, commencement of drilling was pushed back.

Intermittent extreme rain has also occurred over August, delaying the completion of this first hole, but drilling will be more consistent in September onwards after the monsoon season is over. Shortly the team will add a night shift which will expedite progress.

The commencement of drilling follows positive results from a recent SRK 3D mapping exercise, increasing the number of potential pegmatite outcrops by 190%. Following this Bradda increased its staked claims at San Domingo by 75%.

These drill results strengthen Bradda's geological team's thesis that the company's pegmatite district may have larger structures at depth.

Alongside the drilling, a follow-up field observation, soil sampling, and channel sampling programme is now underway across the full 23 square kilometre San Domingo project landholding.

"The completion of the first hole is an important milestone, signifying that we are continuing with our stated intent at San Domingo, following some really positive 3D mapping earlier this month, and it's great to have now begun drilling at the fourth asset in our Arizona and Nevada portfolio, with visible spodumene intersected at multiple depths in the first hole,” said Charles FitzRoy, chief executive of Bradda Head.

"Our San Domingo pegmatite district is extensive, having been historically mined for lithium-in-spodumene in the 1940s and 1950s, within our permitted license area. Historical records show that the average reported grade of the Spodumene mined during this period was 740 tonnes at 2.75% Li2O," he added.