SUDBURY,
ON, July 25, 2022 /CNW/ - Frontier Lithium
Inc. (TSXV: FL) (FRA: HL2) (OTCQX: LITOF) ("Frontier" or "the
Company") is pleased to announce the results for four of the drill
holes completed during the Phase XII drill program on the Spark
pegmatite. Phase XII drill program that began in May 2022 and is currently in progress. The
initial drill holes were designed to quickly convert inferred
material to the indicated category for the planned open pit. The
Spark pegmatite is one of the two delineated premium
spodumene-bearing lithium deposits on the PAK Lithium Project.
Highlights
- Phase XII in-fill and delineation drilling with two drill rigs
is currently being conducted, whereby, the Company has completed
7,000m of drilling in 22 holes at the
time of this press release.
- DDH PL-057-22 intersected 10m of
2.54% Cs2O (assumed to be pollucite) within a high-grade
(3.14% Li2O) spodumene zone from 149.5 to 159.5m.
-
- A highly enriched 15m
tantalum-rubidium zone was intersected beneath the Cs zone from
157.5 to 172.5m grading 1,335 ppm
Ta2O5 and 0.9% Rb2O and remains
open at depth.
- Hole was collared in pegmatite intersecting 110.7m averaging 1.76% Li2O.
- DDH PL-058-22 intersected 239.4m
of pegmatite from 58.1 to 297.4 m
grading 1.3% Li2O with 16 to 18m zones just over 2% Li2O
- DDH PL-063-22 was collared in pegmatite intersecting
144m averaging 1.72%
Li2O.
-
- Hole ended at 248.5m with
68.5m of pegmatite averaging 1.58%
Li2O.
- DDH PL-064-22 intersected 132.9m
of pegmatite from 114.1 to 247.0m
grading 1.33% Li2O;
-
- Includes 7m of elevated Sn (440
ppm SnO2) and Rb (0.51% Rb2O) from 114 to
121m.
- Also includes elevated Ta (959 ppm Ta2O5)
and Nb (602 ppm Nb2O5) from 170 to180m.
"The exciting presence of the cesium mineral pollucite in the
lithium zone intersected in DDH PL-057-22 suggests the Spark
pegmatite is well evolved mineralogically, and may be approaching
the degree of fractionation attained by the prolific Tanco
pegmatite(1) at Bernic
Lake, Manitoba where
high-grade pollucite zones occur." states Garth Drever, V.P. Exploration. "High
fractionation could result in furthering the potential by-products
beyond Lithium and Tantalum. During the remainder of the Phase XII
drilling we intend to investigate this new pegmatite zone to the
north and west with significant Li, Cs, Ta and Rb content".
The initial objective for the Phase XII drill program was
to focus on converting the Inferred resource lithium bearing
material within the central portion of the Spark deposit at depth.
DDH's PL-57, 58, 63 and 64 were all terminated in pegmatite due to
PFS time constraints requiring quick upgrading of some of the
existing inferred resource. The holes will be extended later in the
program. With this objective in mind, most May and June drill holes
are steeply dipping (>-65) and designed to infill the Inferred
area to a vertical depth of around 300-320m. These holes will be included in the
upgraded Measured-Indicated Resource for Spark that will become
part of the Prefeasibility Study (PFS) targeted for completion by
the end of 2022.
Figure 1 is a location map showing the project area including
Frontier's land tenure and location of the three
lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites and includes a plan map of the
Spark pegmatite with drill hole traces highlighting the Phase XII
drilling reported in this release.
Figure 1: Compilation Map showing the project area and a plan
map of the Spark Deposit
Currently Frontier has two drill rigs completing in-fill and
delineation drilling defining the eastern part of the Spark deposit
and defining the western extensions of the deposit. Several of the
initial Phase XII holes that were terminated in mineralization will
be extended. At the time of this press release Frontier had
completed over 7,000m in 22 holes.
Laboratory analysis were only complete for the four holes
reported.
(1)
|
The original size of
the Tanco pegmatite was 57,427,342 tonnes with a maximum thickness
of 100m (Stilling, A., Cerny., 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 and
produced tantalum mineral concentrate until March
2013.
|
Table 1 details the drill holes with mineralized intersections
while Table 2 summarizes all the Phase XII drill holes completed as
of June 10th, 2022.
Table 1: Details of Mineralized Intersections
Drill Hole
PL-057-22
|
Designed to define the
northern contact of the pegmatite, DDH Intersected 110m of
pegmatite grading 1.76% Li2O, however, after 32m of
mafic host rock, the hole intersected 30m of spodumene pegmatite
with anomalous Li (1.68% Li2O), Cs (1.0%
Cs2O), Ta (780 ppm Ta2O5) and Rb
(0.63% Rb2O) over the 30m zone. The hole was
terminated in pegmatite due to time constraints and will be
extended later in the program.
|
Zone
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Width
(m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O
(%)
|
Ta2O5 (ppm)
|
Nb2O5 (ppm)
|
SnO2
(ppm)
|
Rb2O
(%)
|
Unit
|
Li-Enriched
|
0.1
|
110.8
|
110.7
|
1.76
|
0.02
|
124
|
78
|
54
|
0.29
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
8.0
|
20.0
|
12.0
|
2.26
|
0.03
|
194
|
57
|
55
|
0.40
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
32.0
|
66.0
|
34.0
|
2.06
|
0.02
|
129
|
81
|
52
|
0.26
|
Pegmatite
|
Li-Cs-Ta-Rb-Enriched
|
142.6
|
172.5
|
29.9
|
1.68
|
0.99
|
780
|
44
|
218
|
0.63
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
(Li-Cs)
|
149.5
|
159.5
|
10.0
|
3.14
|
2.54
|
211
|
13
|
123
|
0.34
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
(Ta-Rb)
|
157.5
|
172.5
|
15.0
|
1.02
|
0.30
|
1355
|
68
|
316
|
0.90
|
Pegmatite
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drill Hole
PL-058-22
|
Using the same collar
location as PL-057-22, the hole was designed to convert inferred
material at depth. Collared in pegmatite, 36.7m of pegmatite
grading 1.44% Li2O was intersected before 21.5 m of
mafic host rock, then ending with 239.3m of spodumene pegmatite and
aplite averaging 1.3% Li2O with narrow intervals of 16
and 18m averaging just over 2% Li2O. The hole
was terminated in pegmatite due to time constraints and will be
extended later in the program.
|
Zone
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Width
(m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O
(%)
|
Ta2O5 (ppm)
|
Nb2O5 (ppm)
|
SnO2
(ppm)
|
Rb2O
(%)
|
Unit
|
Li-Enriched
|
1.0
|
37.7
|
36.7
|
1.44
|
0.02
|
190
|
100
|
58
|
0.21
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
5.0
|
26.5
|
21.5
|
1.82
|
0.02
|
240
|
109
|
48
|
0.20
|
Pegmatite
|
Li-Enriched
|
58.1
|
297.4
|
239.3
|
1.30
|
0.02
|
88
|
93
|
41
|
0.27
|
Pegmatite-
aplite
|
|
including
|
64.0
|
80.0
|
16.0
|
2.01
|
0.01
|
127
|
74
|
42
|
0.28
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
182.0
|
200.0
|
18.0
|
2.21
|
0.02
|
80
|
73
|
32
|
0.23
|
Aplite
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drill Hole
PL-063-22
|
Stepped back 50m to
convert Inferred material and to test the pegmatite at depth to the
north of PL-058-22. Intersected 145m of pegmatite grading
1.72% Li2O, then a series of three mafic sheets (22, 22
and 27m) separated by 25.4m of pegmatite averaging 1.58%
Li2O and 36m of aplitic pegmatite averaging 1.42%
Li2O. The hole was terminated in pegmatite due to
time constraints and will be extended later in the
program.
|
Zone
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Width
(m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O
(%)
|
Ta2O5 (ppm)
|
Nb2O5 (ppm)
|
SnO2
(ppm)
|
Rb2O
(%)
|
Unit
|
Li-Enriched
|
0.9
|
144.9
|
144.0
|
1.72
|
0.03
|
99
|
86
|
53
|
0.31
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
20.0
|
118.0
|
98.0
|
1.91
|
0.03
|
105
|
89
|
53
|
0.31
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
64.0
|
74.0
|
10.0
|
2.82
|
0.03
|
271
|
225
|
39
|
0.20
|
Pegmatite
|
Li-Enriched
|
168.4
|
193.8
|
25.4
|
1.58
|
0.03
|
105
|
84
|
56
|
0.24
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
|
180.0
|
186.0
|
6.0
|
2.78
|
0.02
|
75
|
70
|
65
|
0.21
|
Pegmatite
|
Li-Enriched
|
218.0
|
254.0
|
36.0
|
1.42
|
0.01
|
105
|
101
|
34
|
0.26
|
Pegmatite-
aplite
|
Li-Enriched
|
280.0
|
348.5
|
68.5
|
1.58
|
0.01
|
69
|
89
|
43
|
0.27
|
Aplite
|
|
including
|
334.0
|
348.5
|
14.5
|
2.58
|
0.01
|
65
|
85
|
35
|
0.24
|
Aplite
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drill Hole
PL-064-22
|
Designed to define the
northern contact of the pegmatite and convert Inferred material at
depth between PL-042-19 and Channels 37-38. Intersected
132.9m of pegmatite from 114.1 to 247.0m grading 1.33%
Li2O. Elevated Sn (440 ppm SnO2) and Rb
(0.51% Rb2O) occur over 7m from 114 to 121m and elevated
Ta (959 ppm Ta2O5) and Nb (602 ppm
Nb2O5). The hole was terminated in
pegmatite due to time constraints and will be extended later in the
program.
|
Zone
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Width
(m)
|
Li2O (%)
|
Cs2O
(%)
|
Ta2O5 (ppm)
|
Nb2O5 (ppm)
|
SnO2
(ppm)
|
Rb2O
(%)
|
Unit
|
Li-Ta-Nb-Sn-Rb-Enriched
|
114.1
|
247.0
|
132.9
|
1.33
|
0.04
|
158
|
121
|
85
|
0.26
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
(Sn-Rb)
|
114.1
|
121.1
|
7.0
|
1.26
|
0.06
|
242
|
94
|
440
|
0.51
|
Pegmatite
|
|
including
(Ta-Nb)
|
170.0
|
180.0
|
10.0
|
2.74
|
0.03
|
959
|
602
|
38
|
0.25
|
Pegmatite-
aplite
|
Li-Enriched
|
296.0
|
352.0
|
56.0
|
0.95
|
0.02
|
91
|
61
|
69
|
0.24
|
Aplite
|
|
including
|
335.0
|
352.0
|
17.0
|
1.45
|
0.02
|
123
|
61
|
101
|
0.30
|
Aplite
|
Table 2: Summary of Phase XII Drill Program (May to
June10, 2022)
DDHNo
|
Date
Drilled
|
UTM Zone 15N
(NAD83)
|
Collar
Orient
|
Metres
Drilled
|
Start
|
End
|
Easting
|
Northing
|
(mASL)
|
Az4im
|
Dip
|
Start
|
End
|
Phase
XII
|
PL-057-22
|
05/15/2022
|
05/17/2022
|
5,829,489
|
472,733
|
355.9
|
357.89
|
-55.2
|
0
|
172.5
|
PL-058-22
|
05/17/2022
|
05/23/2022
|
5,829,489
|
472,733
|
355.9
|
176.64
|
-69.74
|
0
|
297.4
|
PL-059-22
|
05/24/2022
|
05/28/2022
|
5,829,535
|
472,698
|
356.0
|
164.85
|
-78.47
|
0
|
316.0
|
PL-060-22
|
05/27/2022
|
06/04/2022
|
5,829,559
|
472,749
|
360.0
|
179.72
|
-72.69
|
0
|
360.0
|
PL-061-22
|
05/20/2022
|
05/27/2022
|
5,829,561
|
472,773
|
360.2
|
178.1
|
-64.6
|
0
|
327.0
|
PL-062-22
|
05/28/2022
|
06/05/2022
|
5,829,596
|
472,712
|
356.2
|
175.58
|
-65.3
|
0
|
360.0
|
PL-063-22
|
06/05/2022
|
06/10/2022
|
5,829,539
|
472,746
|
360.0
|
187.47
|
-70.4
|
0
|
348.5
|
PL-064-22
|
06/05/2022
|
06/10/2022
|
5,829,596
|
472,712
|
356.2
|
141.1
|
-64.5
|
0
|
352.5
|
Total metres
drilled
|
2,533.9
|
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 float plane and then
shipped to AGAT Laboratories Ltd. (AGAT) in Thunder Bay for sample preparation and to
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 maintains 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.