Charger and Rio Tinto Launch Lithium Exploration in Western Australia

Published: Sep 22, 2025 07:00

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Charger Metals (ASX: CHR) has announced that it will partner with Rio Tinto Exploration to launch a large-scale reverse circulation drilling program at the Lake Johnston lithium and gold project in Western Australia. The program has received regulatory approval and will be managed by Charger, with full funding provided by Rio Tinto, underscoring the close collaboration between the two companies. The drilling campaign will comprise up to 29 holes, focusing on six high-priority lithium targets that have not previously been systematically drilled. This includes six holes at the Whitten lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite target within the Mt Day prospect, reaching depths of up to 1,080 metres, and up to 23 holes across five target areas at Mt Gordon, which have shown lithium, gold, and niobium potential based on soil anomalies and geophysical features. The initiative builds on Charger’s recent maiden inferred resource estimate for the Medcalf lithium deposit of 8.2 million tonnes at 1.0% Li₂O, further highlighting the project’s potential. Drilling is scheduled to commence in early October and is expected to run for four to six weeks.

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