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Brought to you by BULLS N’ BEARS
Doug Bright
Venus Metals Corporation’s JV partner, IGO Limited, has launched a significant field program at the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project in Western Australia after receiving ministerial approval late last year for low-impact work in State Forest areas.
The nod allows IGO to proceed with soil and lag sampling, coupled with geological mapping across key zones in the JV tenements – all under a strict conservation management plan to keep impacts minimal.
Kicking off in mid-January, the program aims to collect around 3500 samples from preserved residual laterite zones, where lithium pathfinder elements such as lithium, tantalum, niobium, caesium and others are expected to provide the clearest geochemical signals.
The program will directly test strike extensions of the standout 2.8-kilometre-long by 1.2-kilometre-wide anomaly at the JV’s priority one Ti Tree target, while also hitting areas adjacent to the existing Cowslip, Greenbushes East, and Flying Duck anomalies. The extensions were outlined in results from an earlier phase two geochemical program, which involved 2697 soil samples.
The Ti Tree anomaly remains open to the northeast, with further investigation awaiting access permission.
In parallel with the soil and lag sampling, geological mapping is being run to pinpoint outcropping bedrock and lateritic regolith in the forests.
Both efforts will wrap up in the third quarter, with full assays due in the final quarter.
IGO is also eyeing low-impact auger or vacuum drilling for bedrock samples at Ti Tree – outside State Forest areas – slated for later this year, which will feed into broader target refinement that distils the relevant gravity, aeromagnetic, and structural data.
The project lies in a prime lithium neighbourhood next to the world-class Greenbushes operation, which is Australia’s biggest and one of the lowest-cost hard-rock spodumene mines.
IGO and Albemarle are partners in the Talison Lithium JV that owns and operates Greenbushes. Held 51 per cent by Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA) and 49 per cent by Albemarle, it delivers a tier-one, low-cost lithium supply. IGO holds a 24.99 per cent indirect interest via TLEA.
Although softer lithium markets have dominated of late, Greenbushes stands out as a premier asset, highlighting the strategic draw of nearby ground such as the JV’s extensive Bridgetown-Greenbushes project with similar pegmatite potential.
IGO elected to advance to stage two farm-in in December 2025, committing $3 million to potentially boost its stake to 70 per cent – up from the current 51 per cent after the stage one JV setup. The term has been extended to November 2028, giving plenty of time for steady progress.
The latest fieldwork push underscores IGO’s hands-on role and bolsters Venus’ lithium leverage in one of WA’s hottest districts.
With assays on the way later this year and possible drilling ahead, the JV is methodically building towards target maturity in a market that still prizes secure future supply.
The scale of the Ti Tree anomaly and the glowering proximity of the Greenbushes giant scream real discovery potential – whether for extensions of known zones or something bigger lurking beneath the laterite cover.
As results are returned and interpretation sharpens the view, the project could become a solid value catalyst for Venus in the lithium scene.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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