Frontier Lithium Reports Drilling Results and Confirms High Grades and Continuity of the PAK Lithium Deposit
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Highlights:
- DDH PL-028-18 intersected 219.75 m of pegmatite averaging 2.07% Li2O from 62.25 to 282.0 m representing a horizontal width of over 56 m with a lithium enriched zone (Lower - Upper Intermediate Zone);
- DDH's PL-028-18 and PL-029-18 confirm and expand the Inferred Resource near the base of the current published Resource Estimate and under the 2018 Pre-Feasibility Open Pit Shell;
- DDH's PL-030-18 to PL-036-18 better defined the high grade (Upper Intermediate Zone) with intercepts as high as 51.4m of 4.05% Li2O representing over 35m of horizontal width in DDH PL-035-18;
-Mineralization remains open to depth and along strike to the northwest and south-east whereby the grade thickness is increasing to the east-south-east (down-plunge).
SUDBURY, October 16, 2018 - Frontier Lithium Inc. (TSX.V: FL) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a 1,221m Phase VI drill program completed in July 2018. The program was primarily planned to drill through the Pre-Feasibility Open Pit shell so that the Inferred Resources at depth under the pit shell could be intersected. The secondary objective was to further delineate the high grade Upper Intermediate Zone ("UIZ") Reserves close to surface. Two drillholes, PL-028-18 and PL-029-18 were drilled from the NNE at a steep angle attempting to drill through the bottom of the pegmatite. Both holes successfully intersected the Inferred Resource at, and near, the base of the pegmatite and only PL-029-18 may have pierced the bottom.
Six shorter drillholes were used to better define the high grade UIZ at surface. The intersections determined that the high-grade UIZ portions of the unit are not as continuous as modelled, however, significant intervals of up to 50m exist of nearly pure spodumene and quartz with consistent grades of over 4% Li2O.
''We are extremely pleased with the results from this drill program as we successfully hit our targets and further strengthen the predictability of the deposit'', stated Trevor Walker, President and CEO of the Company. ''With the conclusion of this drilling the Company will commence with an updated mineral resource calculation. The high-grade thicknesses intersected to date, and mineralization that remains open to depth and along strike, suggests this pegmatite could be significantly more robust than is currently known.''
The assay and collar data for the hole reported is presented in Table I and Table II respectively.
1 Inferred Mineral Resources cannot be used in a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") as a PFS must be supported by mineral reserves.
Table I - Diamond Drill Hole Intercepts
DDH PL-028-18 | Designed to test the continuity of the pegmatite at depth and to upgrade Inferred Resource to Indicated and Measured. Intersected over 220m of continuous spodumene mineralization. The drillhole appears to pierce the southern hangingwall of the pegmatite and not the bottom. | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,636E | Azim | 196° | |||||||||||
5,827,986N | Dip | -75° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Lithium Enriched | 62.3 | 282 | 219.7 | 56.9 | 2.07 | 99 | 100 | 69 | 0.27 | 0.03 | LIZ/UIZ/Aplite | ||
including | 72.8 | 85 | 12.2 | 3.2 | 3.73 | 66 | 42 | 50 | 0.16 | 0.01 | UIZ | ||
including | 168 | 270 | 102 | 26.4 | 2.45 | 93 | 103 | 54 | 0.30 | 0.04 | LIZ/Aplite | ||
DDH PL-029-18 | Designed to test the extent of the "heel" between Holes PL-026-17 and PL-028-18 and to upgrade Inferred to Indicated and Measured. The hole potentially intersected the base of the pegmatite. Over 220m of pegmatite was intersected at an average grade of 1.69% Li2O. | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,583E | Azim | 217° | |||||||||||
5,827,969N | Dip | -79° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Li and Rb Enriched | 23.2 | 245 | 221.8 | 42.3 | 1.69 | 92 | 102 | 72 | 0.27 | 0.04 | LIZ/Aplite | ||
including | 59 | 212 | 153 | 29.2 | 2.20 | 85 | 117 | 57 | 0.30 | 0.04 | LIZ/Aplite | ||
including | 116 | 212 | 96 | 18.3 | 2.67 | 73 | 111 | 43 | 0.35 | 0.05 | LIZ/Aplite | ||
DDH PL-030-18 | Designed to test the continuity and extent of the exposed high grade UIZ on surface near the channels cut in 2015. The hole did not extend into UIZ but rather into "rafts" of granite and significant zones of LIZ. | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,498E | Azim | 142° | |||||||||||
5,827,969N | Dip | -85° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Li and Rb Enriched | 0.4 | 198.6 | 198.2 | 17.3 | 1.43 | 81 | 46 | 63 | 0.22 | 0.04 | LIZ/aplite/granite | ||
Including | 25.0 | 162.0 | 137.0 | 11.9 | 1.72 | 92 | 53 | 60 | 0.27 | 0.05 | LIZ/aplite | ||
Including | 25.0 | 70.0 | 45.0 | 3.9 | 2.86 | 99 | 63 | 45 | 0.33 | 0.05 | LIZ | ||
DDH PL-031-18 | Designed to test the continuity, width and depth extent of the UIZ closer to Channel 21 and the area of the 2015 Bulk sample. Intersected UIZ from surface down to 14.4m then into LIZ and granite "rafts". The hole at was terminated at 25m in granite. | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,524E | Azim | 000° | |||||||||||
5,827,950N | Dip | -90° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Lithium Enriched | 0.4 | 24.8 | 24.4 | n/a | 2.95 | 31 | 18 | 17 | 0.08 | 0.06 | UIZ/LIZ/granite | ||
Including | 0.4 | 14.4 | 14.0 | n/a | 4.32 | 35 | 13 | 7 | 0.05 | 0.08 | UIZ | ||
DDH PL-032-18 | Designed to test the extent of the UIZ zone mapped on surface by drilling from the NNE across the zone. Intersected narrower intervals of UIZ within granite and some LIZ. | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,525E | Azim | 228° | |||||||||||
5,827,963N | Dip | -41.2° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Lithium Enriched | 4.9 | 18.1 | 13.2 | 9.9 | 2.99 | 28 | 19 | 18 | 0.08 | 0.02 | Granite/UIZ/LIZ | ||
Including | 7.2 | 18.1 | 10.9 | 8.2 | 3.42 | 30 | 17 | 18 | 0.05 | 0.02 | UIZ/granite | ||
Including | 7.2 | 13.3 | 6.2 | 4.6 | 4.28 | 28 | 20 | 19 | 0.04 | 0.01 | UIZ | ||
DDH PL-033-18 | Designed to test the extent of the UIZ zone exposed on surface by drilling from the SSW across the zone. Intersected narrower intervals of UIZ near surface as expected then 25m of granite before intersecting 50m of LIZ | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,504E | Azim | 030° | |||||||||||
5,827,939N | Dip | -41.5° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Lithium Enriched | 3.0 | 11.2 | 8.2 | 6.1 | 3.48 | 44 | 33 | 18 | 0.16 | 0.05 | UIZ | ||
Li and Rb Enriched | 36.3 | 86.0 | 49.7 | 37.2 | 1.86 | 121 | 123 | 72 | 0.35 | 0.05 | LIZ/granite | ||
Including | 36.3 | 46.0 | 9.7 | 7.3 | 3.09 | 114 | 45 | 43 | 0.30 | 0.07 | LIZ | ||
Including | 56.0 | 72.0 | 16.0 | 12.0 | 2.36 | 118 | 117 | 82 | 0.33 | 0.04 | LIZ | ||
DDH PL-034-18 | Designed to test the extent the LIZ intersected in metasediments in hole PL-007-14 and at surface in Channels 30, 31 and 32. Intersected a narrow zone (3m) of pegmatite near surface with elevated tin and minor spodumene. | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,311E | Azim | 316° | |||||||||||
5,827,094N | Dip | -44° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Sn Enriched | 19.8 | 22.8 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.51 | 112 | 514 | 66 | 0.21 | 0.02 | pegmatite | ||
DDH PL-035-18 | Designed to test the extent of the UIZ zone exposed on surface by drilling from the SSW across the zone towards hole PL-031-18. Intersected granite at surface then 51m of UIZ before ending the hole in granite | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,311E | Azim | 73° | |||||||||||
5,827,933N | Dip | -43°' | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Lithium Enriched | 1.1 | 52.5 | 51.4 | 37.6 | 4.05 | 28 | 30 | 16 | 0.05 | 0.02 | UIZ | ||
including | 1.1 | 50.0 | 48.9 | 35.8 | 4.11 | 29 | 31 | 17 | 0.05 | 0.02 | UIZ | ||
Including | 7.5 | 46.0 | 38.5 | 28.2 | 4.32 | 23 | 19 | 9 | 0.03 | 0.01 | UIZ | ||
DDH PL-036-18 | Designed to test the extent of the high grade UIZ near hole PL-031-18 and under the 2015 Bulk sample pit. Intersected 23m of UIZ grading 4.25% Li2O before intersecting LIZ and ended in Rb enriched CIZ at 65.4m (1.08% Rb2O over 12.4m) | ||||||||||||
UTM Zone 15N WGS84 | |||||||||||||
474,528E | Azim | 160° | |||||||||||
5,827,945N | Dip | -44° | |||||||||||
Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Horiz. (m)* | Li2O % | Ta2O5 ppm | SnO2 ppm | Nb2O5 ppm | Rb2O % | Cs2O % | Unit | ||
Li and Rb Enriched | 0.0 | 65.4 | 65.4 | 47.0 | 2.38 | 56 | 110 | 31 | 0.43 | 0.05 | UIZ/LIZ/CIZ | ||
including | 0.0 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 16.5 | 4.25 | 39 | 37 | 16 | 0.06 | 0.02 | UIZ | ||
Including | 53.0 | 65.4 | 12.4 | 8.9 | 0.43 | 62 | 117 | 36 | 1.08 | 0.10 | CIZ |
* The intervals ("Width") in Table I are drill intersection widths. The pegmatite is steeply dipping south-southwest to sub-vertical. Based on evidence that the orientation of the pegmatite is mostly sub-vertical, the Horizontal width is representative of the true width when the Azimuth of the drillhole is roughly perpendicular to the strike of the pegmatite which is 110 to 120°.
Li2O content in the Li enriched zones is predominantly associated with spodumene.
Table II - Collar Locations for Diamond Drill Hole
DDHNo | Date Drilled | UTM Zone 15N (NAD83) | Collar Orientation | Metres Drilled | ||||||
Start Date | End Date | Easting | Northing | (mASL) | Azimuth | Dip | Start | End | ||
Phase VI | PL-028-18 | 20-06-2018 | 26-06-2018 | 474,636 | 5,827,986 | 315 | 196 | -75 | 0 | 334.4 |
PL-029-18 | 26-06-2018 | 29-06-2018 | 474,583 | 5,827,974 | 317.4 | 217 | -79 | 0 | 291.0 | |
PL-030-18 | 29-06-2018 | 01-07-2018 | 474,498 | 5,827,969 | 323.5 | 142 | -85 | 0 | 222.0 | |
PL-031-18 | 01-07-2018 | 02-07-2018 | 474,524 | 5,827,950 | 323.6 | 0 | -90 | 0 | 24.8 | |
PL-032-18 | 02-07-2018 | 02-07-2018 | 474,525 | 5,827,963 | 323.2 | 228 | -41.2 | 0 | 48.0 | |
PL-033-18 | 02-07-2018 | 03-07-2018 | 474,504 | 5,827,939 | 322.7 | 30 | -41.5 | 0 | 92.3 | |
PL-034-18 | 03-07-2018 | 04-07-2018 | 474,311 | 5,828,094 | 316 | 20 | -43.5 | 0 | 88.3 | |
PL-035-18 | 04-07-2018 | 05-07-2018 | 474,519 | 5,827,933 | 324.3 | 73 | -43 | 0 | 54.6 | |
PL-036-18 | 05-07-2018 | 06-07-2018 | 474,528 | 5,827,945 | 323.9 | 160 | -44 | 0 | 65.4 | |
Total metres drilled | 1220.8 |
Due Diligence
All scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Garth Drever, P.Geo., the qualified person (QP) under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101. Under Frontier's QA/QC procedures, the diamond drill contract specified BTW-sized drill core providing a 42.0 mm diameter sample. Sample security and chain of custody started with the removal of core from the core tube and boxing of drill core at the drill site. The boxed core remained under the custody of the drill contractor until it was transported from the drill to the secure on-site Core Shack facility by either the drill contractor or one of the Company's designated personnel. At the on-site Core Shack, core boxes were opened and inspected to ensure correct boxing and labelling of the core by the drill contractor, photographed and then re-closed. The company geologists geologically logged and marked the core for sampling before it was photographed. Each core sample was assigned a tag with a unique identifying number. Sample lengths are typically one meter, but can be less depending on zone mineralogy and boundaries. Core marked for sampling was split using a diamond core saw on site and cut lengthwise into equal halves. Half of the core was sent to an analytical laboratory for quantitative analysis of select elements. The remaining half of the core is retained and replaced in the core box. All core remains securely in a locked sea-container on site.
All samples were assayed by AGAT Laboratories Ltd. ("AGAT"), an ISO accredited laboratory in Mississauga, Ontario. Sample blanks along with tantalum, lithium, rubidium and cesium certified reference material was routinely inserted into the sample stream in accordance with industry recommended practices. Field duplicate samples were also taken in accordance with industry recommended practices.
About Frontier Lithium Inc.
Frontier's goal is to become a low-cost, fully integrated lithium and tantalum producer through development of the PAK lithium deposit in Ontario, Canada. Frontier maintains a tight share structure with management ownership exceeding 30% of the Company. Exploration work has been conducted actively since 2013 on the deposit which contains lithium in a rare, high-purity, low-iron spodumene. The initial target market is the glass-ceramic industry which consumes roughly one-third of global lithium supply and is currently faced with monopolistic conditions, coupled with major lithium producers increasingly directing output toward supporting battery manufacture.
Ceramic/glass customers prefer to source technical-grade (low-iron) spodumene concentrate in excess of 7% lithium oxide (Li2O), if available, to avoid lower grade petalite concentrates, or paying much higher prices for battery grade lithium compounds.
The PAK lithium deposit remains open in all directions and Company Management is working towards developing a viable operation. The Company is currently conducting feasibility level programs to optimize the 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study which positively concluded the economic viability and technical feasibility of producing lithium concentrates. Frontier's goal is to first establish a viable technical grade spodumene concentrate operation. A possible second stage of investment and longer term prospect is to further process some of PAK's output to produce the higher purity lithium compounds required for lithium battery technologies used in the electrification of transportation and electric grid storage applications.
About the PAK Lithium Project
The PAK Lithium Project lies close to the boundary between two geological sub-provinces of the western Superior geologic province in northwestern Ontario and hosts a rare metals pegmatite deposit. The deposit is an LCT (lithium- cesium- tantalum) type pegmatite. These types of pegmatites have been the principal source of hard rock lithium, tantalum, rubidium and cesium ores mined in the world but there are comparatively few commercially-viable deposits.
Frontier is actively exploring its 100% owned project which contains the Pakeagama Lake pegmatite. The PAK deposit has a current Measured and Indicated Resource of 8.5 million tonnes of 1.78% Li2O and 101 ppm Ta2O5 and an Inferred Resource of 1.92 million tonnes of 2.01% Li2O and 97 ppm Ta2O5 which has a technical/ceramic grade spodumene with low inherent iron (below 0.1% Fe2O3). The deposit has adjacent zones that are enriched in tantalum and rubidium.
The deposit now has a known 500m strike length with an estimated true width varying from 10m to 125m with a sub-vertical orientation. The resource remains open to depth and along strike to the northwest and southeast.
Company Contact Information
Trevor R. Walker
President & CEO
2736 Belisle Drive Val Caron, ON. P3N 1B3 CANADA
T. +001 705.897.7622
F. +001 705.897.7618
Media Requests
Joseph Mansourian
Manager, Investor Relations
2736 Belisle Drive Val Caron, ON. P3N 1B3 CANADA
T. +001 705.618.0070
F. +001 705.897.7618
Additional information regarding Frontier Lithium is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile and on its website at www.frontierlithium.com, including various pictures of ongoing work at the project.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE: Frontier Lithium Inc.