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Spodumene Lithium Discovery at Issia
Switch Metals PLC has announced a significant spodumene lithium discovery at its Issia Project in Côte d'Ivoire, with grab samples showing grades between 1.00% and 2.58% lithium oxide (Li2O). This discovery, named "Kabore," was made during a pitting and mapping program and is in addition to the company's near-term tantalum mineral resource estimate and development plans. The same trench also yielded coltan occurrences with 82% tantalum, indicating the pegmatites' potential for both tantalum and lithium mineralization. This discovery is particularly encouraging given the improving lithium price environment and the proximity to the San Pedro mineral port. Disclaimer*
About this update from Switch Metals Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nPrior to publication, the information contained within this announcement was deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the UK Market Abuse Regulation. With the publication of this announcement, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.\n2 February 2026\n \nSwitch Metals plc\n(\"Switch Metals\" or the \"Company\")\nSpodumene Lithium Discovery at Issia\nSwitch Metals (AIM: SWT), the critical metals company focused on battery minerals and technology metals in Côte d'Ivoire, is pleased to announce the discovery of a first spodumene bearing pegmatite at its Issia Project. The discovery, named \"Kabore\" was made during a pitting and mapping programme near a tantalum-rich drainage basin.\nHighlights\n· Lithium discovery is in addition to the near-term tantalum (\"Ta\") mineral resource estimate (\"MRE\") and our early Ta cash flow development plans.\n· Grades between 1.00% and 2.58% lithium oxide (\"Li2O\") tested on spodumene-rich zones using a portable Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy analyser (pLIBS) in multiple grab samples.\n· Coltan occurrences showing the presence of tantalite endmember in grab samples (82% Ta) using portable X-ray Fluorescence device (pXRF) were also identified within the same discovery trench.\n· Discovery indicates Issia pegmatites' potential for both tantalum and lithium mineralisation.\n· Issia district-scale project covers multiple hard rock pegmatites to test for tantalum and lithium.\nThe Kabore discovery is located within the north-west trending Issia pegmatite corridor, near previously mapped pegmatite occurrences and tantalum rich HM anomalies (figures 1 & 2).\nIssia is located approximately four hours north of the port of San Pedro mineral port where lithium spodumene concentrate from neighbouring Mali (more than 17 hours' drive north) is currently exported. \nThe discovery has been exposed in a 10 x 20-metre trench where multiple altered grab samples have been collected and analysed using a LIBS and pXRF analyser (figures 3, 4 and table 1).\nSamples were immediately expedited to Thin Section Lab in Nancy, France, who confirmed the spodumene visual observations using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis for detailed mineral characteri...