Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR) has kicked off a four-week long field program consisting of biogeochemical and lithogeochemical sampling and outcrop mapping at its 100%-owned Graphic Lake Lithium Project in Ontario, Canada.
The Graphic Lake Lithium Project consists of 2,300 hectares that host a highly fractionated pegmatite system with a breadth of at least 300 metres and is mapped to 5.5 kilometres in strike.
Looking ahead, CRR is in tune with the Canadian Government’s C$3.8 billion critical minerals strategy, which aims to boost the production of lithium, copper and other strategic minerals to help propel the country's efforts to become a key part of the global electric vehicle supply chain.
“Great opportunity”
CRR managing director Alex Biggs said: “It’s now a great opportunity for us to begin works at our Graphic Lake project, while at the same time continuing our drilling at Mavis Lake.
“The significant presence of outcropping pegmatites is a fantastic guide for us to further our exploration and begin defining drill targets along the 5.5 kilometres strike of known pegmatite occurrences.
“Graphic Lake is a great opportunity to potentially discover significant lithium-bearing mineralisation which will be hugely complementary to our Mavis Lake project.
“Our continued exploration success is seen as a key catalyst to the company developing a lithium hub in Ontario, Canada.”
Work program
The work program at Graphic Lake will consist of the following field activities:
Biogeochemical survey
A 200-metre line spacing by a 50-metre sample spacing grid of black spruce samples is designed to test anomalous lithium values in the rugged terrain.
The purpose of the black spruce sampling is to identify and delineate lithium mineralisation trends within the property.
From the results, the company can narrow in on areas of lithium abundance.
Topographic map of proposed biogeochemical survey for Graphic Lake Lithium Project.
Lithogeochemical sampling
Every exposed pegmatite will be sampled as well as the metasedimentary host rock to identify lithium mineralisation.
Lithogeochemical samples will provide evidence of in-situ lithium mineralisation.
Outcrop mapping
Every exposed outcrop will be mapped to create an active regional geology model.
Outcrops of interest will have detailed mapping performed to provide geological insight on prospective areas within the Graphic Lake property.
The combination of the preliminary grassroots work will be used to support the identification of prospective lithium-bearing targets for drilling. Geophysical surveys are planned to be flown over the Graphic Lake property to provide more confidence about these lithium targets.
Ontario's critical minerals strategy
In March of 2022, the government of Ontario announced its first-ever critical minerals strategy. The strategy aims to secure Ontario’s position as a global leader in responsibly sourced critical minerals.
To achieve this, collaboration is dependent between government, industry, Indigenous peoples, communities, and other stakeholders.
Working together, this strategy will build a stronger, more resilient economy and revitalise local communities.
The strategy is comprised of six pillars, or areas of government action, which will solidify Ontario’s position as a global leader in responsibly sourced critical minerals.
The pillars are: enhancing geoscience information and supporting critical minerals exploration; growing domestic processing and creating resilient supply chains; improving Ontario’s regulatory framework; investing in innovation, research, and development; building economic development opportunities with Indigenous partners; and growing labour supply and developing a skilled labour force.