SUDBURY,
ON, June 7, 2022 /CNW/ - Frontier
Lithium Inc. (TSXV: FL) (FRA: HL2) (OTCQX: LITOF) ("Frontier" or
"the Company") is pleased to announce the results from
the drilling completed during the Phase XI drill program on the
Spark pegmatite. Phase XI drilling was completed in March 2022 with a total of 1,342.5m in five holes completed. The Spark
pegmatite is one of the two delineated premium
spodumene-bearing lithium deposits on the PAK Lithium
Project.
Highlights
- DDH PL-054-22 intersected 95m of 1.31% Li2O from 2.6 to
97.6m including 26m of 2.38% Li2O with elevated
Ta2O5 of 200 ppm;
- DDH PL-055-22 intersected 69.5m averaging 1.39% Li2O from 16.5 to
86m.
-
- A highly enriched 22.5m
tantalum zone was intersected from 180 to 202.6m grading 754 ppm
Ta2O5 with the lower 8.6 m averaging just over 0.1%
Ta2O5.
- DDH PL-056-22 intersected an upper (81.5m) and lower (94.3m) mineralized pegmatite zones grading 1.35
and 1.34% Li2O;
-
- The lower zone (219 to 313m) was unexpected and appears to be an
en-echelon extension of the Spark deposit to the NW.
- Between the upper and lower zones, narrower (7.1 and
12.9m) spodumene-bearing aplitic
zones occur with elevated tantalum (up to 536 ppm
Ta2O5) and rubidium (up to 0.74%
Rb2O).
- Geomechanical hole PL-GDH-09-22 intersected high-grade
spodumene from surface to 24.3m
averaging 2.46% Li2O;
-
- Includes an upper 10m zone
averaging 3.64% Li2O.
"The Spark deposit is a leading North
American lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatite with significant size
and grades. With the mineralized strike length extended to the west
via step-out holes and the discovery of a new zone, we have
confidence that the deposit has high potential to continue to
increase in size. " states Garth
Drever, V.P. Exploration "We are also beginning to intersect
significant tantalum bearing aplitic zones that are close to the
grades seen at the Tanco mine(1) at Bernic Lake in
Manitoba".
The primary objective for the Phase XI drill
program was to focus on low-ground drilling (best
drilled in the winter months) to define the western limit of the
Spark deposit. Instead, our drilling confirmed that the deposit
remains open to the west and we discovered a new zone to the NW
that will need further investigation in the future. Two of
five geomechanical holes were completed with three delineation
holes; two of which were collared in muskeg areas. Figure 1 is a
location map showing the project area including Frontier's land
tenure and location of the three lithium-cesium-tantalum
pegmatites. It also includes a plan map of the Spark pegmatite with
drill hole traces highlighting the Phase XI drilling completed in
February-March 2022.
Figure 1: Compilation Map showing the project
area and a plan map of the Spark Deposit
Table 1 details the delineation drill holes with
mineralized intersections while Table 2 details the intersections
from the Geomechanical holes for Phase XI drill holes. Table
3 summarizes all the Phase XI drill holes
Table 1: Details of Mineralized Intersections
in the delineation Holes
Drill
Hole
PL-054-22
|
Infill/definition
drilling to bring DDH spacing to 30-40m and to confirm/test
en-echelon pegmatite pods at depth in the southwest of the main
pegmatite body. Intersected 95m of 1.13% Li2O with (16
to 26m) of 2.84 and 2.38% Li2O with associated elevated
Ta2O5 of up to 200 ppm.
|
Zone
|
From (m)
|
To (m)
|
Width (m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O (%)
|
Ta2O5
(ppm)
|
Nb2O5
(ppm)
|
SnO2 (ppm)
|
Rb2O (%)
|
Unit
|
Lithium Enriched
|
2.6
|
97.6
|
95.0
|
1.13
|
0.02
|
132
|
78
|
50
|
0.29
|
Aplitic Pegmatite
|
|
including Ta-Enriched
|
67.0
|
93.0
|
26.0
|
2.38
|
0.03
|
201
|
72
|
45
|
0.44
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
77.0
|
93.0
|
16.0
|
2.84
|
0.02
|
164
|
68
|
40
|
0.28
|
Pegmatite
|
Lithium Enriched
|
185.2
|
192.2
|
7.0
|
1.55
|
0.01
|
45
|
48
|
30
|
0.19
|
Aplitic Pegmatite
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drill
Hole
PL-055-22
|
Designed to test the
western extent of pegmatite from the south. Intersected
predominately an aplitic pegmatite with a 69.5m intersection
averaging 1.39% Li2O from 16.5 to 86m. A highly
enriched 22.5m Tantalum zone was intersected from 180 to 202.6m
with a grade of 754 ppm Ta2O5 with the lower
8.6 m averaging just over 0.1%
Ta2O5.
|
Zone
|
From (m)
|
To (m)
|
Width (m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O (%)
|
Ta2O5
(ppm)
|
Nb2O5
(ppm)
|
SnO2 (ppm)
|
Rb2O (%)
|
Unit
|
Lithium Enriched
|
16.5
|
86.0
|
69.5
|
1.39
|
0.01
|
82
|
134
|
49
|
0.17
|
Aplitic Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
52.5
|
86.0
|
33.5
|
1.80
|
0.01
|
38
|
118
|
38
|
0.19
|
Aplitic
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
62.5
|
80.0
|
17.5
|
2.34
|
0.01
|
32
|
114
|
32
|
0.13
|
Pegmatite
|
Ta-Li-Rb-Enriched
|
180.1
|
202.6
|
22.5
|
0.93
|
0.22
|
754
|
89
|
316
|
0.85
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
194.0
|
202.6
|
8.6
|
0.92
|
0.23
|
1026
|
105
|
402
|
0.92
|
Pegmatite
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drill
Hole
PL-056-22
|
Continued to test the
western extent by stepping out 50 m west of PL-055-22. The
hole intersected both an upper (81.5m) and lower (94.3m)
mineralized pegmatite zones grading 1.35% Li2O separated
by narrower (7.1 and 12.9m) aplitic zones with elevated tantalum
(up to 536 ppm Ta2O5) and rubidium (up to
0.74% Rb2O). The lower zone (219 to 313m) appears
to be an en-echelon extension of the Spark deposit.
|
Zone
|
From (m)
|
To (m)
|
Width (m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O (%)
|
Ta2O5
(ppm)
|
Nb2O5
(ppm)
|
SnO2 (ppm)
|
Rb2O (%)
|
Unit
|
Li-Enriched
|
14.5
|
96.0
|
81.5
|
1.35
|
0.02
|
81
|
100
|
44
|
0.21
|
Aplitic Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
26.5
|
81.0
|
54.5
|
1.74
|
0.01
|
75
|
103
|
45
|
0.23
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
39.0
|
65.0
|
26.0
|
2.45
|
0.01
|
65
|
88
|
45
|
0.18
|
Pegmatite
|
Li-Ta-Rb-Enriched
|
171.0
|
183.9
|
12.9
|
0.98
|
0.13
|
536
|
103
|
222
|
0.74
|
Aplite
|
|
Li-Rb-Enriched
|
201.9
|
209.0
|
7.1
|
1.60
|
0.12
|
160
|
47
|
165
|
0.59
|
Aplite
|
|
Li-Ta-Enriched
|
219.0
|
313.3
|
94.3
|
1.34
|
0.11
|
157
|
53
|
143
|
0.54
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
238.1
|
307.6
|
69.5
|
1.60
|
0.12
|
160
|
47
|
165
|
0.59
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
257.7
|
266.0
|
8.3
|
0.87
|
0.18
|
304
|
75
|
352
|
0.31
|
Pegmatite
|
Table 2: Details in Intersections in the
Geomechanical holes
Drill Hole PL-GDH-09-22
|
Designed as a
Geomechanical test hole; testing north end pit wall midway down and
to define the northern pegmatite contact. Intersected 21m of
2.46% Li2O with narrower (10 to 16m) of 3.64 and 3.16%
Li2O, respectively. Intersected moderately fractured and
broken core from 80 to 120m. Majority of core is relatively
competent
|
Zone
|
From (m)
|
To (m)
|
Width (m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O (%)
|
Ta2O5
(ppm)
|
Nb2O5
(ppm)
|
SnO2 (ppm)
|
Rb2O (%)
|
Unit
|
Li- Enriched
|
3.4
|
24.3
|
20.9
|
2.46
|
0.02
|
55
|
107
|
20
|
0.14
|
Aplitic Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
3.4
|
19.4
|
16.0
|
3.16
|
0.01
|
39
|
48
|
19
|
0.16
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
9.4
|
19.4
|
10.0
|
3.64
|
0.01
|
43
|
52
|
16
|
0.07
|
Pegmatite
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drill Hole
PL-GDH-10A-22
|
Designed as a
Geomechanical test hole for SW pit wall designed to go 40m past pit
wall edge. Intersected spodumene poor aplite (18.6 to 31.7m).
Remained of hole is mainly competent mafic volcanics with a 5m
increased fracture zone from 143 to 147m
|
Zone
|
From (m)
|
To (m)
|
Width (m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O (%)
|
Ta2O5
(ppm)
|
Nb2O5
(ppm)
|
SnO2 (ppm)
|
Rb2O (%)
|
Unit
|
Li- Poor
|
18.6
|
31.7
|
13.1
|
0.17
|
0.01
|
156
|
93
|
55
|
0.10
|
Aplitic pegmatite
|
Table 3: Summary of Phase XI Drill
Program
DDHNo
|
Date Drilled
|
UTM Zone 15N (NAD83)
|
Collar Orient
|
Metres Drilled
|
Start
|
End
|
Easting
|
Northing
|
(mASL)
|
Azim
|
Dip
|
Start
|
End
|
Phase XI
|
PL-054-22
|
2022-02-25
|
2022-03-02
|
472,662
|
5,829,488
|
353.5
|
180.4
|
-58
|
0
|
360.0
|
PL-055-22
|
2022-03-07
|
2022-03-10
|
472,631
|
5,829,296
|
326.0
|
343.5
|
-48.9
|
0
|
249.0
|
PL-056-22
|
2022-03-10
|
2022-03-16
|
472,583
|
5,829,297
|
327.7
|
347.73
|
-48.9
|
0
|
351.0
|
PL-GDH-09-22
|
2022-03-03
|
2022-03-06
|
472,661
|
5,829,489
|
353.5
|
345.7
|
-45
|
0
|
223.5
|
PL-GDH-10A-22
|
2022-03-18
|
2022-03-19
|
472,657
|
5,829,279
|
326.8
|
183.5
|
-46.8
|
0
|
159.0
|
Total metres drilled
|
1,342.5
|
During the winter program, a second drill was mobilized to
the project area along with fuel, drill supplies and additional
camp supplies to support Frontier's 2022 summer exploration
program, in part to complete final phase of drilling required to
satisfy requirements for the prefeasibility study (PFS).
(1)
|
The original size of
the Tanco pegmatite was 57,427,342 tonnes with a maximum thickness
of 100m (Stilling, A., Cerney., P., and Vanstone, P.; 2006, The
Tanco Pegmatite at Bernic Lake, Manitoba, The Canadian
Mineralogist; Vol. 44 pp. 599-623). The bulk chemical composition
for Li2O and Ta2O5 was 0.74% and 366ppm, respectively at Tanco. The
Tanco Mine is located in southeastern Manitoba and was a lithium
mineral concentrate producer from 1986 until operations were
suspended in 2009. Tanco was also a tantalum mineral concentrate
producer until March 2013 when operation of this circuit
ceased.
|
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, all drilling was completed by Chenier
Drilling Ltd. of Val Caron, ON
using thin walled BTW drill rods (4.2 cm core diameter) and a
Reflex ACT III oriented core system. Using the Reflex system, the
drill core was oriented and marked as it was retrieved at the
drill. The core was boxed and delivered to the Frontier core shack
where it was examined, geologically logged, and marked for
sampling. The core was photographed prior to sampling. Using
a rock saw, the marked sample intervals were halved with one-half
bagged for analysis. Sample blanks along with 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. The
samples were placed in poly sample bags and transported to
Red Lake by Frontier employees and
then shipped to AGAT Laboratories Ltd. (AGAT) in Mississauga, Ontario for processing and
quantitative multi-element analysis. AGAT is an ISO
accredited laboratory. The core is stored on site at the Pakeagama
Lake exploration camp.
About Frontier
Lithium
Frontier Lithium is a preproduction business that is
targeting to become a manufacturer of battery-quality lithium
materials to support electric vehicle and battery supply chains in
North America. Frontier is
developing the PAK Lithium Project which contains one of
North America's highest-grade,
large-tonnage hard-rock lithium resources in the form of a rare
low-iron spodumene. The project continues to have significant
exploration upside with potential to increase the lithium resource.
The Company is a pure-play lithium development opportunity with the
largest land position in a premium lithium mineral district located
in Northern Ontario.
About PAK Lithium
Project
The PAK Lithium Project contains North America's highest grade lithium resource
that is top three in size on the continent and is considered
premium quality globally as a result of its rare low-iron
spodumene. A 2021 preliminary economic assessment (National
Instrument 43-101 technical report titled "Pak Property" by BBA
E&C Inc., issued on April 5,
2021) delivered a fully integrated lithium operation from
the resource to achieve downstream conversion plan for production
of battery-quality lithium salts. The study resulted in an
after-tax net present value (discounted at 8 per cent) of
$974-million (U.S.) with a
21-per-cent internal rate of return. The Project encompasses close
to 27,000 hectares at the south end of Ontario's Electric Avenue, the largest land
package hosting premium lithium-bearing pegmatites in Ontario. The Project is supported by a
measured and indicated resource of 21.64 million tonnes (Mt)
averaging 1.56 per cent lithium oxide (Li2O) and
inferred resource of 20.87 Mt averaging 1.42 per cent
Li2O.The Project covers 65 kilometres
of the Electric Avenue's length and remains largely unexplored;
however, since 2013, the company has delineated two
premium spodumene-bearing lithium deposits (PAK and Spark),
located 2.3 kilometres apart. Considerable exploration upside is
supported on the Project through two other spodumene-bearing
discoveries: the Bolt pegmatite (located between the PAK and Spark
deposits), as well as the Pennock pegmatite (25 kilometres
northwest of PAK Deposit within the project claims).
Forward-looking
Statements
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. This release includes certain statements
that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in
this release, other than statements of historical facts, that
address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling,
exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company
expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company
believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are
not guarantees of future performance and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those in forward looking statements
include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes,
continued availability of capital and financing, and general
economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned
that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance
and those actual results or developments may differ materially from
those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more
information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's
registered filings available
at sedar.com.
SOURCE Frontier Lithium Inc.