IGO Limited has initiated an extensive field program at the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project in Western Australia following the receipt of ministerial approval for low-impact work in State Forest areas. This program, which commenced in mid-January 2026, allows for critical soil and lag sampling as well as geological mapping across key zones within the joint venture tenements.
The approved plan is designed to adhere to a strict conservation management framework, minimizing the environmental impact of these activities. Approximately 3,500 samples will be collected from preserved residual laterite zones, targeting lithium pathfinder elements such as lithium, tantalum, niobium, and caesium. These elements are expected to yield significant geochemical signals indicative of lithium mineralization.
Targeting High-Potential Anomalies
The field program aims to test the extensions of the notable 2.8-kilometre-long by 1.2-kilometre-wide anomaly located at the project’s priority one Ti Tree target. The testing will also include adjacent areas near existing anomalies, including Cowslip, Greenbushes East, and Flying Duck. These extensions were identified from a previous geochemical program, which analyzed 2,697 soil samples.
The Ti Tree anomaly remains open to the northeast, pending further access permissions for additional investigations. Alongside soil and lag sampling, geological mapping is being conducted to identify outcropping bedrock and lateritic regolith within the forested areas. Both initiatives are set to conclude by the third quarter of 2026, with assay results expected in the final quarter.
Future Drilling Plans and Strategic Importance
Looking ahead, IGO is considering low-impact auger or vacuum drilling for bedrock samples at the Ti Tree site, which will occur outside of State Forest areas later in the year. This drilling will enhance the ongoing target refinement process, utilizing relevant gravity, aeromagnetic, and structural data.
Located adjacent to the world-class Greenbushes operation, which is Australia’s largest and one of the lowest-cost hard-rock spodumene mines, the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project is situated in a highly strategic lithium-rich region. IGO holds a 24.99 percent indirect interest in Greenbushes through its partnership with Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia and Albemarle, which jointly operate the mine.
Despite recent challenges in the lithium market, the Greenbushes project continues to stand out as a premier asset, underscoring the value of nearby properties like the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project, which also displays promising pegmatite potential. In December 2025, IGO opted to move to stage two of its farm-in agreement, committing $3 million to potentially increase its stake from 51 percent to 70 percent by the conclusion of the agreement in November 2028.
The launch of this new field program highlights IGO’s proactive role in exploring and developing lithium resources in Western Australia. With assay results forthcoming and potential drilling on the horizon, the joint venture is making systematic progress towards maturity in a market that increasingly values secure and sustainable lithium supply. As exploration continues, the size of the Ti Tree anomaly and its proximity to the Greenbushes mine signal significant discovery potential, whether through expansions of known zones or the identification of new resources beneath the laterite cover.
