Champion Electric Launches Gravity Survey to Identify Source of Spodumene in Till Samples at its James Bay, Quebec, Lithium Property
Champion Electric Launches Gravity Survey to
Identify Source of Spodumene in Till Samples
at its James Bay, Quebec, Lithium Property
Gravity survey designed to locate source of lithium-bearing boulder and hundreds of
spodumene fragments discovered in initial till sampling at the west end of the Property.
Gravity surveys have proven to be a good technique to locate buried lithium-bearing
pegmatites.
Given characteristics of the lithium-bearing boulder and mineral fragments in the till
samples, the source rock is expected to be relatively nearby on the Property in the up-ice
direction.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 24, 2024) -
Champion Electric Metals Inc.
(CSE: LTHM)
(OTCQB: CHELF) (FSE: 1QB0) ("
Champion Electric
" or the "
Company
") has initiated a gravity
survey to pinpoint the pegmatite source rock of the spodumene (a primary lithium-bearing mineral)
boulder and hundreds of spodumene rock fragments found in the till sampling from the Company's initial
regional exploration at the western part of its more than 500 km
2
James Bay lithium property in Eeyou
Istchee, Quebec (the "
Property
"). The pristine nature of the spodumene boulder and the delicate crystal
fragments discovered in shallow till sampling suggests that they did not travel great distances from their
source. (
See below the images of the discovered spodumene boulder and spodumene fragments and
where they were discovered in relation to the new geophysical survey.
)
The western end of the Property abuts Winsome Resources' property, on which a large lithium resource
discovery called Cancet has been announced. To the east, the Company's Property abuts Patriot Battery
Metals' property which also announced a large lithium discovery. The same greenstone belt that hosts
these large lithium discoveries runs on the Company's Property. (
Cautionary note: Lithium
mineralization on adjacent properties is not indicative of mineralization on our property.
)
The details of the Company's initial important lithium discovery on the Property are described in the
Company's news release in December, 2023
.
The
recent spodumene discovery made during surface rock and till sampling
will be the focus of a high-
resolution ground gravity survey (the "
Survey
"), which Champion Electric's technical team has already
commenced. Gravity has been shown to be an effective tool to map buried pegmatites with no surface
showings, and applied at this scale, it is targeted to yield definitive drill targets.
The Survey encompasses the sample site that yielded the spodumene (lithium-rich) boulder and
hundreds of spodumene fragments and extends up-ice (the opposite direction of glacial ice movement)
for more than 1.5 kilometres (Figure 1). Ground gravity readings will be collected on a 20m x 80m grid
pattern along the Trans-Taiga Road and covering an area of approximately 1.35 km
2
. The Company
engaged local geophysical provider Abitibi Geophysics to complete the two-week-long program under
the supervision of NewGen Geo, a consultancy specialising in the latest geophysical techniques in
pegmatite exploration.
Jonathan Buick, President & CEO, comments
:
"Based on our initial work, we are very excited by the lithium discovery on just one small part of this
large Property. We are kicking off the next phase of exploration for 2024 by targeting this area with a
high-resolution gravity survey to outline the buried source rock of the spodumene. A successful
gravity survey should quickly lead to high-quality drill targets during the first quarter. Combining
specialised geophysical surveying with focused till sampling is the key to unlocking the significant
hard-rock lithium potential of this vast Property, which is mostly covered by glacial and alluvial
deposits. As a method for exploring beneath overburden, this type of survey is much lower impact
than mechanical excavation or closely spaced drilling. Winter is also a good time to acquire gravity
data. Access in the target area is excellent, so we expect to move quickly to complete the survey and
prepare for our maiden drill program."
About High-Resolution Gravity and Subsequent Drilling
The gravity method is a low-impact technique that measures spatial variations in the Earth's gravitational
field caused by contrasts in rock density. The intrusion of a mineralised pegmatite into metamorphosed
basalt basement rocks is expected to produce a detectable gravity response even through snow and
shallow transported glacial cover. Detailed ground gravity surveying has a proven successful track
record for Li-bearing pegmatite exploration in the region (Neroni, 2023).
Results from the gravity survey are expected to be available at the beginning of February. Gravity
anomalies indicative of a possible pegmatite body will be considered high-priority targets for imminent
drill testing. The team already has selected drill permits in place and is currently considering drilling
contractors. Drilling at the Western prospect can be done from the Trans-Taiga Road and could be
scheduled as early as mid to late March.
Figure 1: Planned gravity survey over LiDAR imagery
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/195457_895c864e9421682d_001full.jpg
Figure 2: Grains of spodumene in till sample fraction 0.25 - 0.50mm from the Western prospect
(courtesy of Overburden Drilling Management)
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/195457_champion2en.jpg
Figure 3: Fist-sized angular spodumene boulders retrieved from a till sample at the Western
prospect (courtesy of IOS Services Geoscientifiques)
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/195457_895c864e9421682d_004full.jpg
About the Project
The Company's lithium properties cover the northern extension of the Lac Guyer Greenstone Belt which
hosts neighbouring Patriot Battery Metals' Corvette and
Winsome Resources' Cancet advanced projects
in the prolific James Bay region of Quebec (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Champion Electric Lithium Project location map
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/195457_895c864e9421682d_005full.jpg
Qualified Person
Dr. Eric Hebert, P.Geo., Senior Geological consultant, is a member (#0842) of the Ordre des Géologues
du Québec (OGQ) and a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, and has
reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this press release.
References
Neroni, R., 2023:
Geophysics and remote sensing for pegmatite exploration: Examples from Australia
and Canada.
PDAC 2023, Geophysics: Exploration Case histories - Toronto, Ontario.
About Champion Electric Metals Inc.
Champion Electric is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly
prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. In
addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County and the Champagne polymetallic
project in Butte County near Arco.
The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "LTHM", on the OTCQB under the
trading symbol "CHELF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB0". Champion
Electric strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and contributing citizen to the
local communities where it operates, taking its social license seriously, employing local community
members and service providers at its operations whenever possible.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CHAMPION ELECTRIC
"Jonathan Buick"
Jonathan Buick, President and CEO
To learn more, please visit the Company's SEDAR+ profile at
www.sedarplus.ca
or the Company's
corporate website at
www.champem.com
.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations and Communications
Phone: (416) 567-9087
Email:
THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF
AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER,
SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH
OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
Cautionary Statements
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or
accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release may
include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning
the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and
assumptions made by management of the Company, including closing of the Transactions and the
prospectivity of the Projects for lithium. Although the Company believes that the expectations and
assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no
assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press
release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation
to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future
events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.
The Projects are at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified
persons who have reviewed and approved this news release have not verified scientific or technical
information produced by third parties.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/195457