CORNISH Lithium, the mineral exploration and development company that is seeking sources in the county of a mineral important for the production of electric car batteries, has announced that it has begun test drilling at a new location.

Cornish Lithium has its headquarters at the Tremough Innovation Centre in Penryn, near Falmouth, and says it is commencing operations to drill a research borehole near Twelveheads, St Day, around two miles east of Redruth, to test for lithium in geothermal waters.

The geothermal water samples will be pumped up from naturally permeable structures in the rock beneath.

It is anticipated that this research borehole will take approximately four and a half months to drill, with drilling operations taking place between the hours of 7am and 7pm each day, and will utilise a drill rig that will be approximately the same size as a large transit van.

Samples of geothermal water will be collected at intervals down the borehole, which is planned to be drilled to a depth of approximately 1,600 metres. Some water sampling may take place between 7pm and 11pm, but there will be no drilling after 7pm and noise levels will be controlled.

The company says it is continuing its engagement with the Twelveheads community, by hosting a further drop-in session at Bon Appetit Café between 2pm and 4pm on Wednesday, March 30.

Mike Round, Cornish Lithium’s Operations Manager, said: “It is exciting that we are commencing drilling at Twelveheads. Exploring this new site will provide us with an opportunity to demonstrate the regional potential of extracting lithium from Cornish geothermal waters.

“We are grateful to the local community for their level of engagement with the project so far, which has enabled us to explain our plans and answer questions. We look forward to interacting further with the residents of the Twelveheads area as our drilling operations progress.”

Further details of the proposed work programme at Twelveheads can be found on Cornish Lithium’s website at https://cornishlithium.com/projects/lithium-in-geothermal-waters/twelveheads/

If you would like more information about Cornish Lithium’s drilling programme or have any concerns about it, email drilling@ cornishlithium.com or telephone the drilling team on 01326 640 049.