Perpetual Resources firms up high-grade lithium at recently acquired Renaldinho project

Assays of up to 3.7% Li2O confirm potential of Perpetual’s recently acquired Renaldinho licence to host high-grade spodumene.

Lithium-bearing spodumenes are confirmed to be present at the Renaldinho project. Pic: Getty Images

• Sampling has confirmed the presence of lithium-bearing spodumene at PEC’s new Renaldinho licence

• Results of up to 3.7% Li2O supports goal of building pipeline of advanced and early-stage lithium projects

• Preparations for a maiden drill program in Q2 2025 are progressing rapidly

Special Report: Preliminary work has highlighted the potential of Perpetual Resources’ recently acquired Renaldinho licence in Brazil to host high-grade spodumene mineralisation

Sampling at the licence, one of three the company acquired in February 2025, identified lithium-bearing spodumene across a 2.1km corridor with seven of 30 samples returning >1% lithium oxide including a peak result of 3.7% Li2O.

Renaldinho hosts more than 60 artisanal workings that historically targeted pegmatites rich in high-value gemstones like beryl, elbaite and indicolite, all of which are associated with lithium-enriched pegmatite formations.

High-grade spodumene has now been confirmed on two of the new licences with Perpetual Resources (ASX:PEC).

The company added that a fourth spodumene-bearing pegmatite trend has been confirmed at the Isabella project.

The new Trend 4 coincides with four newly identified artisanal workings and is located adjacent to Trend 1 and Trend 3.

“Perpetual’s strategic acquisitions and consolidation of high-potential licences in the Araçuaí District are positioning the company at the forefront of Brazil’s most prolific lithium-producing region,” exploration manager Allan Stephens said.

“With three licences covering over 2800 hectares – each confirming spodumene mineralisation and scalability – we are building a strong pipeline of both advanced and early-stage lithium projects.

“Our licences are strategically located within 5km of major lithium operations, including Sigma’s Xuxa and CBL’s Coacheria mines, highlighting the district’s Tier-1 potential.

“As we approach our maiden drill campaign, we are confident in our targeting strategy and excited about the potential ahead.”

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Lithium exploration

Renaldinho was one of three licences covering 2559 hectares the company picked up in February, increasing PEC’s regional presence around three-fold.

Reconnaissance has identified substantial pegmatite formations, with thickness exceeding 10m in several locations, accompanied by occurrences of weathered spodumene exhibiting kaolinization at multiple artisanal workings.

All sampled pegmatites occur within the Salinas Schist formation of the highly prospective Araçuaí pegmatite district – a region that accounts for over 90% of Brazil’s lithium production and is internationally recognised for its abundance of spodumene-rich pegmatites.

PEC’s initial exploration has confirmed significant lithium mineralisation within the licence and identified further spodumene-bearing targets that provide a robust foundation for ongoing exploration and future drill target definition.

Recent assays from sampling at the newly acquired Renaldinho project. Pic: Perpetual Resources

Over at the Isabella project, fieldwork conducted in January 2025 confirmed the discovery of the new Trend 4, which runs sub-parallel to the previously identified Trend 1 that returned up to 6.8% Li2O in late 2024.

These results reinforce evidence of a system of parallel-stacked tensional pegmatites across the northern portion of the Isabella licence.

All identified pegmatite trends at Isabella show strong structural relationships within the host granite.

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Next steps

PEC has implemented an accelerated exploration program across its key lithium projects with its geological team currently on-site conducting soil, auger, and rock chip sampling.

These activities will further refine and prioritise drill targets, with drilling expected to initially target the recently acquired Igrejinah project where substantial high-grade spodumene outcrops exist.

Preparations for a maiden drill program in the second quarter of 2025 are progressing rapidly.

Drill contractors are now in the final stages of appointment, positioning the company to start an intensive exploration drilling phase that seeks to validate the extensive spodumene mineralisation identified to date.

This article was developed in collaboration with Perpetual Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.