Results from the latest four holes are as follows:
- DDH PL-057-22 intersected 10 metres of 2.54% cesium oxide (Cs2O), assumed to be pollucite, within a high-grade (3.14% Li2O) spodumene zone from 149.5 to 159.5 metres. A highly enriched 15-metre tantalum-rubidium zone was also intersected beneath the cesium zone.
- DDH PL-058-22 intersected 239.4 metres of pegmatite from 58.1 to 297.4 metres grading 1.3% Li2O with 16- to 18-metre zones just over 2% Li2O.
- DDH PL-063-22 was collared in pegmatite intersecting 144 metres averaging 1.72% Li2O.
- DDH PL-064-22 intersected 132.9 metres of pegmatite from 114.1 to 247.0 metres grading 1.33% Li2O.
All four holes were terminated in pegmatite due to pre-feasibility time constraints requiring quick upgrading of some of the existing inferred resource. The holes will be extended later in the program.
“The exciting presence of the cesium mineral pollucite in the lithium zone intersected in DDH PL-057-22 suggests the Spark pegmatite is well evolved mineralogically, and may be approaching the degree of fractionation attained by the prolific Tanco pegmatite at Bernic Lake, Man., where high-grade pollucite zones occur,” Garth Drever, VP exploration of Frontier Lithium, commented. “High fractionation could result in furthering the potential by-products beyond lithium and tantalum. During the remainder of the Phase 12 drilling, we intend to investigate this new pegmatite zone to the north and west with significant lithium, cesium, tantalum and rubidium content.”
Currently, the company has two drill rigs completing infill and delineation drilling defining the eastern part of the deposit and defining the western extensions.
The Spark pegmatite is one of the two premium spodumene-bearing deposits Frontier has delineated on the PAK project. The other, the PAK deposit, which is located 2.3 km away, has a mineral resource in measured, indicated and inferred categories of 9.3 million averaging 2.06% Li2O.
Last year, the company produced a preliminary economic assessment of the PAK project that examined a fully integrated lithium operation. The project was given an after-tax net present value (with an 8% discount) of US$974 million and an internal rate of return of 21%.
Learn more about the PAK project in Ontario at www.FrontierLithium.com.
