Piedmont Lithium Ltd. said June 14 that a maiden resource estimate for its namesake Piedmont lithium project in North Carolina outlined a total indicated and inferred resource of 16.19 million tonnes grading 1.12% lithium oxide, or Li2O, for 182,000 tonnes contained Li2O.

The maiden estimate includes an indicated resource of 8.50 million tonnes grading 1.15% Li2O for 98,000 tonnes contained Li2O. Inferred resources stood at 7.70 million tonnes grading 1.09% Li2O for 84,000 tonnes contained Li2O.

Data gathered from an over 35,300-meter resource drilling program was used as the basis for the maiden resource estimate, the lithium explorer said. A scoping study for the Piedmont project is due for completion in the third quarter.