IGO and Venus Metals Intensify Lithium Hunt in Southwest WA
IGO Limited, the joint venture partner of Venus Metals Corporation, has initiated a substantial field program at the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project in Western Australia's southwest. This move follows ministerial approval granted late last year, permitting low-impact work within State Forest areas.
Field Program Details and Conservation Measures
The approved activities include soil and lag sampling, alongside geological mapping across critical zones of the joint venture tenements. All operations are governed by a stringent conservation management plan designed to minimise environmental impacts.
Commencing in mid-January, the program targets the collection of approximately 3500 samples from preserved residual laterite zones. These areas are anticipated to yield clear geochemical signals from lithium pathfinder elements such as lithium, tantalum, niobium, and caesium.
Focus on Key Anomalies and Extensions
The fieldwork will directly test strike extensions of the prominent Ti Tree target, a 2.8-kilometre-long by 1.2-kilometre-wide anomaly identified as priority one. Additionally, sampling will cover areas adjacent to existing anomalies at Cowslip, Greenbushes East, and Flying Duck.
These extensions were delineated through 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 pending access permissions.
Parallel Geological Mapping and Future Plans
Geological mapping is being conducted concurrently with the sampling efforts to identify outcropping bedrock and lateritic regolith within the forested regions. Both components of the program are scheduled for completion in the third quarter, with full assay results expected in the final quarter.
IGO is also considering low-impact auger or vacuum drilling for bedrock samples at the Ti Tree target, located outside State Forest areas. This drilling, planned for later this year, will contribute to broader target refinement by integrating gravity, aeromagnetic, and structural data.
Strategic Location and Joint Venture Context
The Bridgetown-Greenbushes project is situated in a prime lithium neighbourhood, adjacent to the world-class Greenbushes operation. Greenbushes is Australia's largest and one of the lowest-cost hard-rock spodumene mines.
IGO and Albemarle are partners in the Talison Lithium Joint Venture, which owns and operates the Greenbushes mine. The joint venture is held 51 per cent by Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia and 49 per cent by Albemarle, providing a tier-one, low-cost lithium supply. IGO maintains a 24.99 per cent indirect interest through its stake in Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia.
Market Conditions and Investment Commitment
Despite recent softer lithium market conditions, Greenbushes stands out as a premier asset, underscoring the strategic value of nearby ground with similar pegmatite potential, such as the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project.
In December 2025, IGO elected to advance to stage two of the farm-in agreement, committing $3 million. This investment could increase IGO's stake in the joint venture to 70 per cent, up from the current 51 per cent established during stage one. The agreement term has been extended to November 2028, allowing ample time for steady progress.
Discovery Potential and Value Catalyst
The latest fieldwork initiative highlights IGO's hands-on involvement and enhances Venus Metals' lithium leverage in one of Western Australia's most prospective districts. With assays anticipated later this year and potential drilling on the horizon, the joint venture is methodically advancing towards target maturity in a market that continues to value secure future supply.
The scale of the Ti Tree anomaly, combined with the proximity to the Greenbushes giant, suggests significant discovery potential—whether through extensions of known zones or the identification of new deposits beneath the laterite cover.
As results are returned and interpretations refined, the project could emerge as a substantial value catalyst for Venus Metals within the competitive lithium sector.
