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Lithium exploration and project development company Critical Resources Limited ASX:CRR (“Critical Resources” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce highly encouraging litho-geochemical results from the 2023 spring field program, which centered on the Gullwing and Tot prospects at the Company’s 100%-owned Mavis Lake Lithium Project in Ontario, Canada.
Highlights
- Spodumene mineralization with surface samples up to 3.2% Li2O confirmed during the spring field work program at the Mavis Lake Lithium Project
- 281 rock-chip grab samples taken over an area of 10km, centered on the known Gullwing and Tot Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) outcrops
- Standout assay results include:
- Sample 3347562 with 3.2% Li2O from spodumene
- Sample 347565 with 2.6% Li2O from spodumene
- Sample 347604 with 2.4% Li2O from spodumene
- Sample 347561 with 2.2% Li2O from spodumene
- Near-term exploration drilling targets identified at the Gullwing and Tot prospects
- Mapping and sampling results also identified additional drill targets, around the newly discovered Little Wing LCT pegmatite outcrop
- Drill pad permits for Gullwing and Tot targets are under application with drilling expected to commence as soon as practically possible
- Resource extension drilling continues at the Mavis Lake Main Zone with assays pending
The Gullwing and Tot prospects and associated claims are contiguous with the claims that surround the Mavis Lake Main Zone, which hosts the Company’s 8Mt Inferred Resource.
Field teams conducted grass-roots exploration around the Gullwing and Tot LCT pegmatites from May to early June 2023, with the objective of confirming historical exploration results, extending the known footprint of LCT pegmatites and supporting the development of high-confidence drilling targets for future drill programs.
Along with geological mapping, a total of 281 rock-chip grab samples and 272 soil samples were taken over a strike extent of ~10km. Rock-chips have returned positive litho-geochemical assay results. The mobile metal ion (MMI) analysis for the soil sample results are pending.
A summary of key results can be seen in Figure 1 and Table 1, and full exploration results can be seen in Appendix 1.
Figure 1 – Summary of key results from rock-chip sampling and mapping with identified target areas for future drilling
Field Program Overview
Field crews mobilized in early May 2023 to conduct preliminary field work on the Gullwing and Tot prospects. During the course of the program, 281 rock-chip grab samples were collected for litho- geochemical analysis of both pegmatites and host rocks, 272 soil samples were taken for MMI analysis, and geological mapping of pegmatites and host rocks was undertaken.
Standout rock-chip results are summarised in Table 1, showing high-grade lithium and/or high- grade Rubidium as a key indicator for follow-up targeting.
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This article includes content from Critical Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
CRR:AU
Spodumene Pegmatite Discovery at Esperança Project in Brazil Yields LIBS Results up to 4.04% Li2O
The discovery has been made during early-stage exploration programs which include project scale geological mapping, ground reconnaissance, and soil sampling. These early-stage programs remain ongoing with further results to come over the coming weeks. The discovery supports the Company’s exploration thesis and uplifts the remaining prospectivity across all three project areas: Canabrava, Caraíbas and Esperança projects.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Artisanal excavations reveal a lithium bearing pegmatite with elongate crystalline spodumene crystals up to 50cm in length
- LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) results of spodumene crystals return up to 18,800 ppm Lithium, or 4.04% Li2O
- Discovery provides walk up drill target for fully funded drilling campaign to begin Q1 2025
- Soil sampling and geological mapping continues across the Esperança, Canabrava and Caraíbas projects with further results due over the coming weeks
Lightning Minerals Managing Director Alex Biggs said, “I am highly encouraged by these results from Brazil. As I have spoken about, as a team we are committed to discovery and completing our works in a diligent and structured manner, the proof of which is in these results. The Company is progressing its projects in Brazil quickly and cost effectively and generating significant results for the business which we feel will be transformational. I am proud of and congratulate our geology teams both in Australia and Brazil who have conducted themselves in a professional and astute manner which has been crucial in making a discovery such as this. This is a great first step for us in Brazil and is testament to the prospectivity of the region as I have discussed previously. We look forward to drilling in Q1 2025 and further results to come imminently from all three project areas in Brazil. I would also like to thank our shareholders who have supported our vision and exploration strategy. As a Company we are firmly committed to the lithium thematic and firmly committed to Brazil where we see significant potential moving forwards”.
Lithium Discovery at Esperança Project
During geological mapping fieldwork conducted in mid-November 2024 field geologists encountered a previously unknown historical artisanal mine within the Esperança project area. The site presented with a small access which opened into a set of sub vertical shafts sunk several meters into schists of the Salinas formation. Upon investigation the geology team has discovered pegmatitic lithologies in the walls of the excavations, of which the suite of minerals indicates inclusion of macro crystalline (up to 50cm) elongate crystals of spodumene as shown in Figure 1(a) and Figure 1(b).
Figure 1a (left): Brazilian geologist Vitor Araujo Alves showing the spodumene rich portion of the zoned pegmatite discovered at the Esperança Property. Figure 1b (right): Large elongate spodumene crystals (Spd) up to 50cm in length showing homogeneous growth patterns amongst a quartz (Qtz) and Feldspar (Fdsp) rich matrix
The Company’s geologists have collected selective mineral specimen grab samples in sample VLM207 (Figure 2). Six separate minerals have been analysed via a SciAps Z-903 hand-held LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) device which has returned lithium endowment of up to 18,800 ppm lithium, which equates to a lithium oxide percentage of 4.04% Li2O.
The SciAps Z-903 handheld LIBS device is considered a qualitative analysis technique only and is used as an in-field preliminary check to establish if a mineral is lithium-bearing. Certified laboratory assays are required to provide accurate, quantitative analysis. A table of the six SciAps Z-903 handheld LIBS results testing the spodumene crystals is shown in Table 1. A full table of results are presented in Appendix 2, Table 2.
While the current field observations indicate that the mineral identified is a lithium-bearing mineral, the percentage of lithium produced from the LIBS analyser does not correlate to an accurate quantitative measurement of the lithium concentration of the mineral itself, or to the overall grade of the pegmatite.
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This article includes content from Lightning Minerals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
