Pure Resources Limited (ASX:PR1) has received successful results from a first pass exploration programme with the promising discovery of prospective zones with elevated Lithium, Niobium, Tantalum concentrations at Laforge Lithium Project in Quebec, Canada.
The 2022 winter rock sampling programme was designed to evaluate the potential for LCT (Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum)-bearing pegmatites on the Project in northern Quebec. Rock grab samples were collected to test for a suite of major and trace elements via ICP-MS at ALS laboratories.
Prospecting on the Project was helicopter-supported (to and from Mirage Adventure Lodge) and took place between December 1st – December 13th, 2022.
Prospective locations for rock sampling were chosen based on topographic relief and previously mapped outcrops of migmatitic rock near contacts with metasedimentary units. In general, exposure on the Property was limited due to snowfall and terrain conditions. Preference was given to sampling directly from outcropping units from wind- swept outcrops, but float samples which displayed characteristics similar to known lithologies on the Property were also collected. All samples were submitted to ALS laboratories in Val-d’Or Quebec for ME-MS61 analysis.
The early observations (across just five per cent of our project area) are very exciting to have identified the presence of lithium and associated pathfinder elements on our very first mapping and sampling programme,” Executive Chairman, Patric Glovac, said.
“Early results support the Board’s view on the prospectivity of the Project, which, whilst greenfields in nature, is situated in the same geological province and exhibits analogous rock types, structural setting and geophysical properties as observed at the Corvette Lithium Trend 65km to the southwest.
“Importantly, to have discovered the presence of lithium in rock chips on previously un- explored ground and identifying three promising zones of granitic-pegmatitic lithologies, is a strong step and reaffirms the company’s decision to accelerate its 2023 Canadian summer exploration programme ahead of drilling.
“We maintain the belief that the Laforge Lithium Project represents a genuine opportunity to discover a significant lithium deposit in a Tier-1 jurisdiction and whilst we are excited with the data generated and the early observations from the recent geological site visit, we look forward to accelerating exploration in an effort to identify more outcropping pegmatites over the remaining 95% of our land holding.”
Multiple samples from Zone 2 contained anomalous concentrations of Li, Ta, Nb, and Cs and this area represents the most prospective zone for future exploration. Zones 1 and 3 also showed anomalous pathfinder element concentrations and outcrops of granitic- pegmatitic rocks forming topographic highs. These areas represent additional candidates for future exploration.
Other lithologies observed on the Property included variably metamorphosed gneisses, metasediments, and mafic-intermediate intrusions. Geochemical results from these units returned no relevant element anomalies.