Renforth Resources Inc (CSE:RFR, OTCQB:RFHRF) has provided an update on its exploration program at its Surimeau project in Québec, noting that it has identified 11 peraluminous rare-element enriched pegmatites and anomaly clusters which could potentially contain lithium mineralization.
The Pickering, Ontario-based multi-commodity company, said it commissioned JJ Minerals Inc to author a report on the interpretation of lithium assays at Surimeau to help it plan its summer 2023 lithium prospecting season at its wholly owned 330-square kilometer (km2) Surimeau property.
"This report, authored by rare element pegmatite experts, demonstrates that there is lithium potential at Surimeau which we will explore,” said Renforth CEO Nicole Brewster.
“Lithium is another facet to Surimeau, adding to our 29 kilometers of magnetic structures bearing nickel polymetallic mineralization and our copper discovery in the north of the 330 km2 property. We look forward to learning more about lithium on our property with our work this summer," she added.
Renforth conducted a three-month grab sampling and mapping program at Surimeau starting in May last year. A total of 229 samples were sent for assay. The mapping and sampling program focused on the southern part of Surimeau along the meta-sedimentary and Decelles Reservoir Batholith contact, said the company.
As it so happens, 11 anomalies were identified based on elevated lithium (Li), rubidium (Rb), caesium (Cs), beryllium (Be), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta) and tin (Sn) in the assayed samples.
Renforth noted that of the 11 rare-element anomalies identified by JJ, anomaly clusters A and D have the “most potential to host lithium mineralization” and are recommended for stripping.
The company said Anomaly Cluster A has a 150-meter strike length trending northwest-southeast with increasing Li, Be, Nb and Ta contents increasing from the northwest to the southeast based on 11 assayed grab samples collected by Renforth.
The pegmatitic granite samples are enriched in rare elements and contain coarse-grained muscovite and tourmaline clots which are indicator minerals for lithium pegmatites, added the company.
Meanwhile, Anomaly A is located within meta-sedimentary rocks about 0.5 km north of the contact with the Decelles Reservoir Batholith. The company said the NW-SE trend of Anomaly A is the same orientation as Vision Lithium’s Cadillac spodumene dykes.
Renforth highlighted that Anomaly Cluster D has a 440m strike length trending east-west. The pegmatitic granites enriched in Rb, Be, Nb and Ta consistently contain coarse-grained muscovite based on 8 assayed grab samples. The rare-element enrichment and the presence of coarse-grained muscovite are indicators for lithium pegmatites. Cluster D plots within the Decelles Reservoir Batholith which is the same setting as Vision Lithium’s Cadillac spodumene pegmatites.
The company said that based on a review of Renforth and MERN sampling datasets, JJ Minerals has identified three exploration targets. The first one is within 1 km of the contact between the meta-sedimentary rocks and the Decelles Reservoir Batholith on both sides of the contact.
The second one is the biotite granite bodies north of the meta-sedimentary Decelles Reservoir Batholith contact. The third exploration target is anomalies E and J, occurring in meta-sedimentary rocks, near diabase dykes that are regional structures that could act as pegmatitic fluid pathways, said Renforth.
Meanwhile, follow-up recommendations suggest stripping two of the anomaly clusters A and D and exploring unexplored target areas on the property.
The prospective meta-sedimentary batholith contact, which forms the bottom portion of the Surimeau property, is 24 km in length, with limited exploration historically. A review of satellite imagery for the unexplored areas provides targets for pegmatite prospecting, said the firm.
A field crew will kick off prospecting and mapping both the 11 identified anomalies and the unexplored target area pegmatites, said Renforth.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive