Electric Metals (USA) Limited (TSX-V:EML) (EML) said further assay results from its current drill program at the Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota have confirmed that similar high-grade manganese (Mn) and manganese oxide (MnO) extends both along-trend and to depth.
Commenting on the progress at Emily, Gary Lewis, Group CEO of Electric Metals said: “Exploration at Emily continues to go from strength to strength as the extent of the deposit appears to grow with each drill hole completed. Our technical team continues to be impressed by the exceptional manganese grade and continuity of this unique deposit.
“And with unprecedented growth and investment in downstream battery applications, particularly in EVs, markets are finally taking notice of the importance of manganese-based cathode chemistries.”
He added: “The location and apparent continuity of the very high manganese grades at Emily, along trend and at depth, are important to help EML complete the process to assess the viability of this deposit and the opportunity to supply the domestic USA market with battery grade manganese products.”
Drilling highlights from the four most recent drill core assays were:
- 33.9 metres (m) of 17.93% Mn (23.2% MnO) from 58.2m including 5.39m of 42.5% Mn (54.9% MnO) from 62.9m
- 30.1m of 18.2% Mn (23.5% MnO) from 106.1m including 3.05m of 48.6% Mn (62.7% MnO) from 109.12m
- 13.0m of 18.9% Mn (24.4% MnO) from 119.6m 30.5 meters
The company said representative high-grade drill core is dominated by the dark grey to black manganese oxide minerals manganite (MnO(OH)) and pyrolusite (MnO2). The results continue to show that sulphides are not present in the high-grade manganese rock and importantly sulfur, copper, nickel, zinc, lead and arsenic contents are negligible.
Drill core samples from additional, recently completed drill holes located along trend to the west of this reported drilling have been forwarded for assaying and results from these are expected during coming weeks, it added.
Drilling is continuing to step westward at approximately 100-meter collar spacing and EML expects that this stage of drill work will be completed in late July.
The company, operating under its wholly owned Minnesotan subsidiary, North Star Manganese Inc, plans to drill approximately 30 holes in the current drill program and is anticipating completion of this stage of work in late summer 2023.
EML is currently drill testing the deposit to provide high-grade manganese feedstock as part of an effort to determine the viability of a potential, future mine operation, and to produce chemicals for the lithium-ion battery market.
The United States is 100% reliant on imported manganese, including manganese chemicals used for standard and lithium-ion batteries. EML’s goal is to be able to secure approvals to process Emily manganese and provide manganese chemicals to support future growth of electric vehicle production and energy storage infrastructure.
EML also announced the launch of its new website, which can be found at www.electricmetals.com.
The Emily Project is located in the Cuyuna Iron Range of central Minnesota, an area with a rich mining history and support from established local infrastructure, a skilled mining workforce and abundant power and gas.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com