The company received all approvals, allowing a 2000m reverse circulation drilling program to begin at the project, southwest of Ravensthorpe.

Drilling will focus on the Deep Purple South prospect, where geochemical work last year identified two parallel anomalous zones over a strike length of up to 650m.

Initial field work at Deep Purple South in mid-2016 returned grades of up to 3.23%, 2.76% and 2.67% lithium oxide.

Sampling completed by previous tenement owner Galaxy Resources in 2012 returned rock chips grading up to 4.48% lithium oxide.

Galaxy never drill-tested the target and it was relinquished in 2012 just prior to the suspension of the Mt Cattlin mine, 14km from Kingston’s ground.

Mt Cattlin was recently recommissioned, bringing explorers back to the area.

Kingston managing director Andrew Corbett said the company was pleased to kick off the year with a drilling program.

“We look forward to reporting results later in the quarter, with a second drilling program likely to follow,” he said.

“The current half is set to be another busy one for Kingston as we commence drilling across two further lithium prospects and the Livingstone gold project.”

Kingston, formerly a copper explorer, emerged early last year with a new lithium focus and $A6.85 million cash.

The company recently picked up the Livingstone gold project near Meekatharra, and is also preparing to drill its Bynoe lithium project in the Northern Territory.

Shares in Kingston gained more than 13% to 2.5c, a three-month high. The stock started 2017 at 1.7c.