Oceana Lithium (ASX:OCN) is preparing for its initial drilling program at the Serra Negra project in Brazil, covering up to 20,000 meters, according to a Thursday filing with the Australian bourse.

The program is designed to assess the scale and geological control of the mineralization at the project ahead of an initial resource estimate later in the year, the filing said.

Additionally, the company started an extensive assaying program involving about 8,000 meters of historic core to confirm the extent and continuity of the rare earth mineralization at the project, per the filing.

Shares rose 1% in morning trade on Thursday.