Avalon Expands Resource Potential at Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora ON
Avalon Expands Resource Potential at
Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora ON
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 4, 2023) -
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
(TSX: AVL)
(OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") announces that the preliminary results from the winter
2023 diamond drilling program has potentially expanded the lithium resource at the Company's
Separation Rapids Lithium Project. Thirteen holes totalling 4179 metres were drilled on the central main
mass depth extensions of the resource.
Of note, the final hole totalled 570 metres vertically through the
deposit and confirmed visual petalite mineralization to a depth of 565 metres.
This increases the
potential depth of the deposit by 80% from the previously tested 315 metres deepest intercept.
The other
twelve holes intersected mineralization to the east, west and at depth from the existing resource and
justify completion of an updated resource estimate for the Separation Rapids lithium deposit.
Assays
from four of the holes are pending.
Drilling Program Details
The winter 2022/23 diamond drilling program included twelve drill holes on the existing resource and one
vertical drill hole on the main centre of the deposit designed to examine the potential depth extent of the
petalite mineralization.
Twelve holes were designed to undercut historic maximum-known mineralized
drill intercepts on the widest part of the Separation Rapids as step outs to expand the existing resource.
The main deposit consists of a large, zoned vertical pegmatite dyke averaging 50-70m in thickness that
has been structurally flattened, that includes both petalite and lepidolite accompanied by many narrower
mineralized dykes of similar but variable lithium mineralogy.
The dominant lithium mineral is petalite.
The
dykes tend to be lepidolite-rich on both the east and west extensions.
Lepidolite is a lithium mica
typically containing 7-8% Li
2
O content while petalite typically contains 4-4.5% Li
2
O, but with no
impurities.
The twelve holes were drilled over a total strike length of about 300 metres.
Six holes (SR-22-81 to SR-
23-86, assays for SR-23-85 pending) were designed to intersect the main part of the zone below
existing drilling and were successful in extending the mineralization to depth (Table 2).
Four holes (SR-
23-87 to SR-23-90) were on the eastern extension of the deposit, which hosts both the lithium-bearing
mica, lepidolite, as well as petalite; three of these were successful in extending the eastern
mineralization (SR-23-90 assays pending).
Finally, two holes (SR-23-91 to SR-23-92) were drilled on the
western edge of the deposit.
With SR-23-92 intersecting lithium mineralization, the deposit was
extended to the west (SR-23-91 assays pending).
In summary, drilling tested the deposit to depth, over a 300 metre strike length in the main part of the
deposit ("The Big Whopper") with mineralization exceeding the 0.5% Li
2
O cutoff grade encountered in
all but one of the holes.
Notable mineralized intervals (all widths estimated true width unless otherwise
stated) include 1.67% Li
2
O over 19.6 metres (SR-22-81),
1.20% Li
2
O over 27.5 metres (SR-23-83) and
1.8% Li
2
O over 9.63 metres contained within 0.96% Li
2
O over 45 metres (SR-23-86).
For the eastern
extension of the deposit, SR-23-89 intersected 1.61% Li
2
O over 5.74 metres and for the western
extension SR-23-92 intersected intervals of 0.89% Li
2
O over 12.4 metres and 1.49% Li
2
O over 4.5
metres. These grades are typical of the Big Whopper resource as it also includes Rb-K feldspars which
are a significant potential by-product along with tantalum and cesium.
Drill hole SR-23-93 was set up near the geographic centre of the deposit and drilled vertically to 570
metres.
As mentioned above, the objective was to explore geologically the depth extent of the
Big
Whopper pegmatite assuming it continues with a vertical dip.
The deepest intercept prior to this drill
program was about 315 metres from surface.
The vertical drill hole intersected pegmatite to a depth of
565 metres with continuous visible petalite mineralization similar to previous assayed core intervals
along its entire length.
The drill hole exited pegmatite entering amphibolite host rock at
565 metres but it
is not known whether this was due to the hole exiting the main body due to dip, or entering a narrow zone
of amphibolite which is commonly observed within the deposit.
However, the drill hole has increased the
vertical depth of known petalite mineralization by 80%.
Conclusions as to the grade of lithium is
contingent on the pending assay results.
Please note that this intercept does not represent a true width.
All drill hole data will be brought into Avalon's database and resource block model in order to develop an
independent updated resource estimate for the deposit.
Commenting on the recent drilling results, Avalon's Chief Operating Officer, Rickardo Welyhorsky, says:
"The early visual result of drill hole SR-23-93 demonstrates the depth potential of the deposit and shows
the necessity of an extensive drill program to bring forward the mineralization between 315 and 565
metres from surface into the Separation Rapids lithium resource."
This news release was reviewed by the Dr. Bill Mercer, P. Geo. (ON).
Dr. Mercer is a qualified person
for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the technical
information included in this news release.
Director Appointment
The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Scott Monteith to the Company's
Board of Directors.
He is the son of a previous director, Joe Monteith.
Mr. Monteith is an experienced clean tech executive, entrepreneur and business owner with a successful
track record of moving inventions from ideation to commercial success.
He is currently the Chair of
Monteco Ltd., Cable House Capital Ltd. and Imtex Membranes Corporation.
Mr. Monteith has extensive
experience in the areas of chemical manufacturing, international businesses, M&A, government affairs
and strategic planning.
Commented Avalon CEO, Don Bubar, "We are thrilled that Mr. Monteith has agreed to join Avalon's
Board of Directors.
His vast array of experience with start ups, especially in the area of chemicals
manufacturing, will bring valuable guidance to the Company as we transition towards development of the
critical minerals supply chain in Ontario."
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in
sustainably-produced materials for clean technology.
The Company now has four advanced stage
projects, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements,
tantalum, cesium and zirconium.
Avalon is currently focusing on developing its Separation Rapids
Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario while continuing to advance its other projects, including its 100%-
owned Lilypad Cesium-Tantalum-Lithium Project located near Fort Hope, Ontario.
Social responsibility
and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.
For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at
, or phone Zeeshan
Syed, President, at 416-364-4938.
Table 1: Drill hole locations
Drill hole
UTM (NAD83 Zone 15)
Dip
Azimuth
End of hole
(metres)
Easting
Northing
SR-22-81
388480
5568845
-65
360
486
SR-23-82
388400
5568875
-69
360
450
SR-23-83
388370
5568885
-70
360
447
SR-23-84
388425
5568900
-70
360
417
SR-23-85
388450
5568900
-66
360
450
SR-23-86
388525
5568900
-70
360
300
SR-23-87
388651
5569017
-60
180
132
SR-23-88
388648
5568968
-60
180
126
SR-23-89
388570
5569033
-55
180
201
SR-23-90
388570
5569033
-65
180
252
SR-23-91
388300
5568980
-50
360
177
SR-23-92
388300
5568980
-65
360
171
SR-23-93
388444
5569000
-90
NA
570
TOTAL
4179
Table 2: Significant drill intersections
Drill hole
From (m)
To (m)
Drilled Width
(m)
Estimated True
Width (m)
Li2O %
SR-22-81
325.00
371.50
46.50
19.65
1.67
SR-23-82
325.00
452.50
127.50
45.69
0.73
including
325.00
371.50
46.50
16.66
1.67
SR-23-83
336.00
412.75
76.75
26.25
1.10
including
336.00
367.70
31.70
10.84
1.44
and
378.10
390.80
12.70
4.34
1.66
SR-23-84
187.00
410.00
223.00
76.27
0.96
including
203.00
321.25
118.25
40.44
1.46
and
329.00
332.20
3.20
1.09
1.65
and
406.00
410.00
4.00
1.37
1.87
SR-23-86
167.25
300.00
132.75
45.40
0.96
including
167.25
185.25
18.00
6.16
1.22
and
216.00
244.00
28.00
9.58
1.49
and
271.85
300.00
28.15
9.63
1.80
SR-23-87
40.10
54.80
14.70
7.35
1.16
and
62.30
72.00
9.70
4.85
0.94
SR-23-88
84.25
93.00
8.75
4.38
1.13
SR-23-89
7.00
17.00
10.00
5.74
1.61
and
47.55
52.05
4.50
2.58
1.44
SR23-92
42.80
71.30
28.50
12.04
0.89
and
77.10
87.80
10.70
4.52
1.49
Notes to Table 2:
1
.
True widths are estimated assuming the mineralized zones are vertical and true width is horizontal. The calculation was completed using the
collar angle of the drill hole.
The near vertical nature is clearly apparent in drill sections.
2
.
For interval calculations a cutoff grade of 0.50% Li
2
O was utilized which is similar to that used in previous resource estimates.
Mineralized
intervals with overall grades considerably below 1% Li
2
O are not quoted.
3
.
All drill core was split by Avalon staff on site near Kenora and shipped to ALS Global in Thunder Bay for preparation and on to ALS
Vancouver for analysis by methods ME-MS81, ICP-06, and ME-4ACD81for multielement analysis including Li, Ta, Cs and Rb.
4
.
Some drill core samples had lithium values overlimits for the analytical method (>10.000 ppm Li) were entered as 1% Li for calculation
purposes.
In these cases the interval grades will be underestimates. Samples over 10,000 ppm lithium are to be reanalyzed by Li-OG63, a
lithium specific analytical method conducted by ALS Global.
5
.
Avalon inserted company certified lithium standards and blanks into the sample stream for QAQC purposes.
The results of the Avalon and
laboratory standards and blanks were reviewed for acceptance by the QP, Dr. Bill Mercer, P. Geo. (ON), qualified person for the purposes
of National Instrument 43-101,
prior to accepting the laboratory results.
6
.
Lithium (Li) analyses in ppm were converted to Li
2
O values by multiplying by 2.1527.
7
.
The drill program was supervised in the field by J.C.Pedersen (P.Geo) and A. Meek (P.Geo).
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that winter 2023 diamond
drilling program has potentially expanded the lithium resource at the Company's Separation Rapids
Lithium Project, that the potential depth of the deposit may be increased by 80% from the previously
tested 315 metres deepest intercept, and that all drill hole data will be brought into Avalon's database
and resource block model in order to develop an independent updated resource estimate for the
deposit.
Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues", "expects" or "does not
expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or variations of such words
and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be"
or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on
assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made.
Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited
to market conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well
as those risk factors set out in the Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's
Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at
www.SEDAR.com
. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in
understanding the Company's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance
with applicable securities laws.
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