IGO Limited, in collaboration with its joint venture partner, Venus Metals Corporation, has embarked on an extensive field program at the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project in Western Australia. This development follows the receipt of ministerial approval for low-impact exploration work in State Forest areas, allowing the company to commence soil and lag sampling along with geological mapping across significant zones in the joint venture tenements.
The field program began in mid-January 2026 and is set to collect approximately 3,500 samples from preserved residual laterite zones. These zones are expected to yield crucial geochemical signals for lithium pathfinder elements, including lithium, tantalum, niobium, and caesium. The initiative will directly target strike extensions of the prominent 2.8-kilometre-long by 1.2-kilometre-wide anomaly at the JV’s priority one Ti Tree target, while also exploring areas adjacent to existing anomalies such as Cowslip, Greenbushes East, and Flying Duck.
Exploration Details and Future Plans
Previous results from a phase two geochemical program, which analyzed 2,697 soil samples, indicated that the Ti Tree anomaly remains open to the northeast, with further investigations pending access permissions. Alongside soil and lag sampling, geological mapping is also underway to identify outcropping bedrock and lateritic regolith within the forest areas. Both of these efforts are expected to conclude by the third quarter of 2026, with full assay results anticipated in the final quarter.
Additionally, IGO plans to conduct low-impact auger or vacuum drilling for bedrock samples at Ti Tree later this year, targeting areas outside State Forest regions. This drilling will contribute to a broader refinement of targets, integrating relevant gravity, aeromagnetic, and structural data.
The Bridgetown-Greenbushes project is strategically located near the world-class Greenbushes operation, which is recognized as Australia’s largest and one of the lowest-cost hard-rock spodumene mines. The Greenbushes operation is jointly owned by IGO and Albemarle through the Talison Lithium JV, with a 51 percent stake held by Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA) and 49 percent by Albemarle. IGO possesses a 24.99 percent indirect interest via TLEA.
Investment and Market Context
Despite recent softness in lithium markets, the Greenbushes operation continues to stand out as a premier asset, underscoring the strategic importance of nearby areas such as the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project, which holds similar pegmatite potential. In December 2025, IGO opted to advance to stage two in its farm-in agreement, committing $3 million to potentially increase its stake to 70 percent from the current 51 percent following the initial joint venture setup. The term of this agreement has been extended to November 2028, allowing ample time for sustained progress.
The latest fieldwork initiative highlights IGO’s proactive engagement in the project and enhances Venus’ position in one of Western Australia’s most promising lithium districts. With assay results expected later this year and potential drilling on the horizon, the joint venture is methodically advancing toward target maturity in a market that remains focused on securing future lithium supply.
The scale of the Ti Tree anomaly, coupled with the proximity to the significant Greenbushes resource, indicates substantial discovery potential, whether for extending known zones or uncovering larger resources beneath the laterite cover. As results are processed and interpretations evolve, the Bridgetown-Greenbushes project could emerge as a significant value catalyst for Venus within the lithium sector.
