Those of us who live in the north’s mining communities know that where there is prospecting there’s promise, and as long as companies keep looking for ore, there will be lifeblood in our towns. It is with that in mind that each news release from area stakeholders is greeted with tempered, yet eager optimism. Prospecting begets mines and mines produce paycheques and progress.
Such was the case when Nova Minerals Limited announced on Aug. 28 that they have identified a new spodumene (source of lithium) zone in proximity of their Thompson Brothers Lithium Project on the east side of Wekusko Lake. The new zone has been identified as part of Sherritt Gordon pegmatite cluster.
Nova advises that their prospecting team has visited the site to in order to undertake a field investigation and confirm access into the zone in preparation for the upcoming winter drill program.
Noting that the team identified the new pegmatite in a surface outcrop near known mineralization, they say this new discovery confirms the potential of the area to host additional occurrences that could increase the existing resource base, and add scale to the Thompson Brothers deposit. The company plans to evaluate the extent of the cluster while maintaining a “fast track” approach.
“This new discovery is very encouraging in that it indicates a much larger area of interest for lithium-bearing pegmatites at Sherritt Gordon, including where they may extend across a much larger area than first thought,” said Nova’s managing director Avi Kimelman. “The company will draw on Dale Schultz and the field crew’s significant experience and expertise in lithium geology in the region, developed through the drilling and exploration programs across the Thompson Brother Lithium Deposit to test the extent of the historic Sherritt Gordon zone and newly discovered outcrops. Sherritt Gordon could be developed concurrently as a complimentary satellite operation to the Thompson Brothers ore body to add scale and mine life.”
Nova has set, as one of their immediate goals, advancement of the Thompson Brothers Lithium Project - pursuing the project to production and cash flow.
In the same vein (so to speak), Far Resources announced on Sept. 6 that they had completed their summer field program at the Zoro Lithium Project in the same east side of Wekusko area. Work included: mobile metal ions technology (MMI) soil geochemical surveys, geological mapping, drill core sampling, and prospecting work. As well, a total of 784 soil samples were collected based on sampling protocols established early in the exploration program.
“Our commitment to Zoro and our ongoing programs at the project reflect our belief that lithium demand will continue to grow; we will be well-positioned to meet that demand as we develop Zoro through staged, strategic exploration,” said Far’s CEO and president Toby Mayo.
The company is planning an autumn drill program to test lithium anomalies. This will take place pending accessing and establishing drill sites in the area prior to freeze-up.
Not to be outdone, on Sept. 12, Rockcliff Metals announced that they are now the largest landholder in Snow Lake, Manitoba! After acquiring, through map staking, a 100 per cent interest in two separate land packages; the company now controls approximately 169,000 hectares, making it the largest landholder in the Snow Lake portion of the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt.
“The belt has been home to over 30 base metal mines and eight gold mines,” said Rockcliff’s president and CEO Ken Lapierre. “Having worked there for over 13 years, we felt the time was right to acquire key land positions in an evolving new mining camp south-southeast of Snow Lake. We acquired the VMS #1 Property and the VMS #2 Property for their potential to host significant new high-grade mineral discoveries. With land covering 80 km of collective strike length, we are now in a position of beginning the compilation of all available data and are planning to complete an airborne geophysical survey with the ultimate goal of identifying drill targets. We will also continue to look at strategic opportunities to monetize Rockcliff’s extensive base metal and gold assets and advance our portfolio of high-grade properties in the camp.”
