** Shares of mineral explorer Eastern Resources Ltd EFE.AX
rise as much as 21.2% to A$0.040 - set for best day since Oct.
4, if gains hold
** Co identifies spodumene, a source of lithium mineral, in
drill samples at its Trigg Hill Project in Western Australia
** Says assays from phase 1 drilling at the project are
still pending and phase 2 drilling programme is underway
** Stock hits its highest since Nov. 29
** As of last close, stock down 37.7% this year
(Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru)
((Himanshi.Akhand@thomsonreuters.com;))