Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR) has encountered visual spodumene in another four step-out drill holes at its 100%-owned Mavis Lake Lithium Project, in Ontario, Canada.
The highest visual intersection, recorded in hole six, is estimated to contain 40% spodumene within a 3.6-metre pegmatite interval, while hole seven encountered a visual intersection measuring 6.9 metres with an estimated 20% spodumene-bearing pegmatite.
So far, eight of nine holes in Critical’s drill program have hit visual, spodumene-bearing pegmatites.
Around 20% of the company’s inaugural, 5,000-metre exploration program at Mavis Lake has been completed.
“Highest representation to date”
Speaking to the drilling update, Critical managing director Alex Biggs said: “The 40% visual spodumene mineralisation within pegmatite six is the highest representation of observed lithium mineralisation to date.
“We are noticing that pegmatite widths and spodumene mineralisation appear to both increase at depth within pegmatite six.
“The down-dip and along strike extension of pegmatite 6 will continue to be targeted during this drill program.
“The success we have experienced to date at Mavis Lake continues to demonstrate the quality of the asset, and we are looking forward to further successes as the drill program advances.
“The company remains committed to its goal of working towards defining a JORC-compliant resource at Mavis Lake which will be both transformational for the company and the project and will position Critical at the forefront of the lithium industry in Ontario.”
The findings so far
Critical is drilling a series of step-out holes at Mavis Lake, all of which are targeting new mineralisation that’s never been tested before now.
The explorer encountered a lengthy spodumene hit between 99.6 and 106.5 metres in hole seven at Mavis Lake.
The white to grey pegmatite is estimated to contain 20% of fine to medium cream coloured, spodumene crystals over 6.9 metres.
What’s more, hole seven demonstrates the up-dip continuity of mineralisation previously observed in hole five.
In addition, substantial spodumene was hosted in two pegmatites from 126.4 to 128 metres and 129 to 132.6 metres in hole six.
The white to grey pegmatites are estimated to contain up to 40% of fine to medium cream coloured, spodumene crystals over 3.6 metres.
Taking a step back, hole six has confirmed lithium mineralisation continues along strike and depth in pegmatite six.
About Mavis Lake
Critical’s Mavis Lake Lithium Project is 19 kilometres east of the town of Dryden, Ontario.
The project is in close vicinity to the Trans-Canada highway and railway major transportation arteries, linking larger cities such as Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the southeast and Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the west.
The region boasts excellent infrastructure with hydro-power located a few kilometres southwest of the project.
Previous drill programs at Mavis Lake have yielded high-grade lithium oxide hits, including:
- 55.25 metres at 1.04% lithium oxide from 80.75 metres; and
- 26.30 metres at 1.70% from 111.9 metres, including 7.70 metres at 2.97% from 130.5 metres.