Solstice Gold Corp. (TSX-V:SGC) announced promising lithium-rich discoveries, including spodumene-rich pegmatites and significant lithium enrichment, that it said highlights the exploration potential in the Quetico Lithium District of Ontario.
The company is actively exploring the Church and Kamuck projects in the Quetico district.
According to Solstice, a new spodumene discovery by Pegmatite One was reported within 15 km of the Church property.
Another discovery was reported to the east of Georgia Lake by Tearlach on their Georgina Properties, adjacent to Solstice's Gathering Lake claims, optioned to Green Technology Metals. Solstice's Kamuck Property is situated to the east of these discoveries.
The Quetico Lithium District has gained attention due to spodumene discoveries reported in 2023, defining an expanded area with high lithium potential.
Pablo McDonald, Solstice CEO, stated that initial prospecting at the Church Property revealed several 20 to 30m wide pegmatites.
Further exploration throughout the fall indicated a trend of lithium enrichment in alkali feldspars across the southern part of the property. Radiometric anomalies, similar to those near spodumene-bearing pegmatites, were observed, providing positive signs for potential lithium resources. The Kamuck property, located just east of the new discoveries, also showed promising signs.
“The combination of positive signs coming out of these properties after initial prospecting show that these areas have the potential to host LCT Pegmatites and I’m therefore very excited to get back on the ground with detailed prospecting and sampling,” McDonald said in a statement.
Key findings include the delineation of five 12-30m-wide pegmatites with quartz, albite, and potassium feldspar at the Church property during preliminary exploration in August 2023. Elevated levels of lithium in certain minerals indicate a potential lithium-rich area at the southern end of the Church property, in line with detected radiometric anomalies. Analyses of unknown minerals at Church and Kamuck also showed significant lithium content, with readings of 1.18% Li2O at Church and 3.0% Li2O at Kamuck.
Solstice conducted further exploration, including prospecting, sampling, whole rock geochemical, and LIBS analysis. Analysis of Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) radiometric data revealed Equivalent Uranium anomalies associated with a major structure, the Black Sturgeon River Fault, indicating potential potassic granite source intrusions that may lead to pegmatites. Geochemical analysis also identified lithium-enriched trends in alkali feldspars, consistent with indicators of spodumene presence in known lithium districts.
The Kamuck property, acquired in October 2023, confirmed a well-exposed pegmatite swarm correlating with a prominent ~3km ENE-trending eU anomaly. Elevated lithium content (LIBS readings up to 3.0% Li2O) in a green mineral, likely fluorapatite, suggests economic potential for lithium and tantalum. Solstice staked a strong eU anomaly adjacent to Kamuck to expand its exploration area.
Ontario government grant
Solstice also said that it has been selected to receive a grant of up to $200,000 under the Ontario Junior Exploration Program from the Ontario Government, covering eligible exploration costs incurred from April 1, 2023, to February 15, 2024. This grant, along with a previous $200,000 OJEP grant for the SLP project in 2023, will support the exploration program at the Church project.