Li-FT to Acquire the Yellowknife Lithium Project, a Portfolio of 14 Significant Spodumene Pegmatites
Li-FT to Acquire the Yellowknife Lithium
Project, a Portfolio of 14 Significant
Spodumene Pegmatites
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 23, 2022) - Li-FT Power Ltd.
(
CSE: LIFT
)
(FSE:
WS0
) ("
Li-FT
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an
amalgamation agreement dated November 22, 2022 (the "
Amalgamation Agreement
") with 1361516
B.C. Ltd. (the "
Target
"
),
a private company holding a 100% interest in the Yellowknife Lithium Project
(the "
Project
" or the "
Properties
"), whereby the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Target (the "
Transaction
").
The Yellowknife Lithium Project is comprised of mineral leases that cover the majority of the lithium
pegmatites that make up the Yellowknife Pegmatite Province ("
YPP
"). The YPP has been noted to be
one of the largest lithium resources in the Western world (Page, 1987 - Equinox Resources). Numerous
spodumene-bearing pegmatites with strike lengths up to 1,800 meters and widths up to 40 meters
outcrop in a spectacular fashion within the Project and are plainly visible from satellite imagery (Figures
2, 3, & 4). A list of pegmatites and their dimensions is detailed below in Table 1. The YPP also benefits
from excellent existing infrastructure, including roads, rail and a skilled labour force that could support the
development of this project.
Francis MacDonald, CEO of Li-FT, comments, “The Yellowknife Lithium Project is a tremendous
opportunity to consolidate numerous lithium pegmatites that have the potential to be one of the largest
hard rock lithium resources in North America. The Project was held privately for 35 years without having
any exploration work completed at a time when lithium was not an exciting commodity. We look forward
to completing an aggressive drill program to delineate the subsurface extent of the abundant lithium
mineralization we see at surface.”
Transaction Highlights
Portfolio of lithium pegmatites which could produce the largest hard rock lithium
resource in North America.
The Yellowknife Project contains 14 different lithium pegmatite
systems, most of which are visible in satellite imagery. Historic channel sampling has produced
average grades from 1.10 - 1.59% Li
2
O over widths of 7 to 40 meters. Strike extents of
pegmatites visible on surface are 100 to 1,800 meters (see Figure 2).
Transformative acquisition leading to resource development drilling.
The Company plans to
initiate an aggressive drill program once necessary permits are received to advance the
Yellowknife Project towards a maiden resource estimate.
Advantageous location near railway.
Railway access at the town of Hay River, located on the
southern side of Great Slave Lake, can be utilized for shipping spodumene concentrate.
Spodumene concentrate could be moved by barge from Yellowknife to the rail head or by all-
weather road.
Road accessible.
The Fi, Ki, and Hi minerals leases are located within 60 kilometers of the city of
Yellowknife and are accessible from the asphalt-surfaced Ingram Trail, then by 10 kilometers along
the Thompson-Lundmark mine access road. The BIG lease is located approximately 30 kilometres
to the east of Yellowknife along the Ingram Trail, then five kilometers to the south along winter
access trails.
$11,700,000 in cash.
As of October 31, 2022, the Target had $11,700,000 in cash and cash
equivalents.
Figure 1 - Locations of the 14 lithium pegmatites within the Yellowknife Project which is located to the
east of the city of Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8766/145404_7133c933a40f7b9f_002full.jpg
Figure 2 - Yellowknife lithium pegmatite outlines (all at the same scale). Pegmatite outlines are
interpreted from satellite imagery, historic geologic mapping, and current geologic mapping
completed in September, 2022.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8766/145404_7133c933a40f7b9f_003full.jpg
Project History
Lithium mineralization hosted in spodumene-bearing pegmatites of the Yellowknife Pegmatite Province
(YPP) was first discovered in the 1940's and intermittently explored through to the 1980's. Canadian
Superior Exploration Limited (CSEL), the exploration arm of Superior Oil, completed systematic
mapping, spodumene crystal counts, blasting-trenching, channel sampling and diamond drilling in the
area from 1975 to 1979. CSEL estimated an overall resource potential for the YPP of 49 million tons at
an average grade of 1.40% Li
2
O
1
(calculated to a vertical depth of 152m) of which 75% is located within
the Yellowknife Project (Lasmanis, 1978). This estimate was not prepared in accordance with National
Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and was prepared prior to
the current CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Further, a qualified
person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or
mineral reserves; and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or
mineral reserves. Additional confirmation drilling will be necessary to achieve a resource estimate which
will be compliant with the requirements of NI 43-101.The historical estimate should not be relied upon
and there can be no assurance that any of historical resources, in whole or in part, will ever become
economically viable.
Superior Oil was acquired by Mobil in 1984 which led to the divestment of the CSEL mineral properties
and the claims holding the largest lithium pegmatites were transferred to a private company owned by
the Target.
In 1985, the private company entered into an option agreement with Equinox Resources Ltd.
who collected bulk samples in 1987 for initial metallurgical testing. The results from initial metallurgical
testing were positive and Equinox recommended a full feasibility study. Equinox was later acquired by
Hecla Mining Company and the YPP lithium deposits reverted back to the private company. Since 1987,
very little exploration work was completed on any of the pegmatites.
Cali Lease - Little Nahanni Pegmatite Field
In addition to the Yellowknife Project, the Target holds the Cali lease located in the Little Nahanni
Pegmatite Field in the MacKenzie mountains in Northwest Territories near the Yukon border. The Little
Nahanni Pegmatite Field has been noted to have greater than 275 complex rare element pegmatites
over an area of 13 by 2.5 kilometers. CSEL also held the Cali pegmatite in the 1970's which
subsequently was acquired during the portfolio acquisition in 1983.
The Cali pegmatite was mapped by CSEL in 1977 and was described as outcropping over a 500 meter
strike length, having a 300 meter outcropping vertical extent, and having up to 100 meter width. Panels of
metasedimentary country rock occur within the spodumene-bearing pegmatite which has been
described to have 60 meters of pegmatite dyke material. Float mapping suggests that the lithium-
bearing dyke could be up to 1,200 meters in strike length.
Figure 3 - Fi Main dyke view from a helicopter. Looking southwest.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8766/145404_7133c933a40f7b9f_004full.jpg
Transaction Details
The Transaction is an arm's length transaction and will not result in a 'fundamental change', as such term
is defined under the policies of the CSE, to the Company's business. Under the terms of the
Amalgamation Agreement, the Transaction will be completed by way of a three-cornered amalgamation
under the
Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia), whereby, among other things:
a
.
1386798 B.C. Ltd. ("
Subco
"), a subsidiary of the Company created for the purposes of
completing the Transaction, will amalgamate with and into the Target, with the amalgamated entity
("
Amalco
") becoming
a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and;
b
.
each outstanding share of the Target (a "
Target Share
") will be exchanged for 0.60 of a common
shares of Li-FT (a "
Li-FT Share
").
It is anticipated that 18 million Li-FT Shares, at a deemed price of $8.59 per share, will be issued
pursuant to the Transaction based on the current capital structure of the Target. The Target is widely held
with no control persons and no new insiders will be created in the Company as a result of the
Transaction.
No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Transaction. The Transaction is not expected to
require the approval of the Company's shareholders but will require the approval of the shareholders of
the Target.
The Transaction is subject to a number of terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, receipt of
third party consents of historical vendors, the approval of the shareholders of the Target, and the
approval of the CSE and other applicable regulatory authorities.
Figure 4 - Historic channel sampling completed by Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd. in 1975 over
the Fi Main and Fi Southwest deposits (NWT Assessment Report 080282).
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8766/145404_7133c933a40f7b9f_005full.jpg
Table 1 - List of lithium pegmatites and their dimensions within the Yellowknife Project mineral leases.
Li Pegmatite
Length (m)
Average Width
(m)
Mapped
Surface Area
(m
2
)
Channel
Sample
Average
Grade (Li
2
O
%)
Notes
Fi Main
1800
15
36,500
1.10
Linear dyke which branches into multiple sections for approximately
900m. Southern half not systemically channel sampled
Fi Southwest
900
20
24,000
1.30
Linear dyke which varies in width from 5 to 37m
Ki
600
12
8,700
1.40
Grade estimate based on detailed spodumene crystal counts
averaging 20-25%
Hi (Shorty)
400
25
17,000
1.07
Linear dyke that is up to 40m wide
Big East
900
20
17,500
1.45
Pegmatite dyke swarm over 150m width; 20m average width of dykes
within 150m corridor
Big West
1000
20
20,000
1.53
Pegmatite dyke swarm over 150m width; 20m average width of dykes
within 150m corridor
Nite
900
7
8,700
1.46
Linear dyke ranging from 4 to 10m in width; average of 9m
Thor
600
300
26,000
1.59
Complex dyke swarm; visible surface area of spodumene pegmatites
is ~25,000 m2
VO
9,000
1.48
Dyke swarm of seven individual dykes over an area of a 1,300m x
500m area
Bet
100
6
550
2.00
Historic tantalum mine, spodumene crystals up to 2m in length
Bin
125
12
1,300
1.75
Spodumene crystal percentages estimated to be >25% over the dyke
Hid
200
6
650
1.56
Discontinuous dyke; two 5 kg channel samples averaged 1.56% Li2O
Lens
100
12
1,200
1.97
Sub-vertically dipping dyke, spodumene crystals up to 50cm long
Mut
80
5
500
2.20
Spodumene crystals up to 30cm long; crystal counts between 25-
35% spodumene
Grades and dimensions taken from the Northwest Territories Showing database (
https://app.nwtgeoscience.ca/Searching/ShowingsSearch.aspx
), as
well has historic geologic maps produced by Canadian Superior Exploration during the 1970's exploration campaign which are available in NWT
assessment reports.
Information about the Target
The Target is a private company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia holding
a 100% interest in and to the 14 mineral leases comprising the Project, located in the Northwest
Territories. The Project is subject to a 2% net profits royalty and an overriding 2% gross production
royalty (the "
GORR"
). The GORR shall also apply to all after acquired mineral interests of the
leaseholder in the Northwest Territories, subject to adjustment as set forth in the agreement evidencing
the GORR.
Qualified Person
Don Cummings, P.Geo (OGQ # 2183), independent consultant to Li-FT Power Ltd., Qualified Person
under NI 43- 101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, has reviewed and approved the
technical content of this release.
About Li-FT
Li-FT is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of
mineral properties, specifically lithium pegmatite projects located in Canada. The Company currently
controls 228,237 hectares of ground at its Rupert, Pontax, and Moyenne Projects which are prospective
for hard rock lithium deposits.
For further information, please contact:
Francis MacDonald
Chief Executive Officer
Tel:
Canada:
+1.778.322.8705
Germany: +49.1522.1073741
Email:
Website:
www.li-ft.com
References
Yellowknife Lithium Pegmatite District
Lasmanis, R., (1978),
Lithium Resources in the Yellowknife Area, Northwest Territories, Canada
. Energy, Vol. 3 pp. 399-407.
Northwest Territories mineral exploration assessment reports can be found at:
https://app.nwtgeoscience.ca/Searching/ReferenceSearch.aspx
Fi Main - Fi Southwest
NWT Assessment Report 080282 (1975) -
Report on a Geological Survey of the Fi 2-7, 9-14 Minerals Claims, Yellowknife Area, NWT
.
Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 080958 (1979) -
Report on the 1979 Trenching Program Performed on the Fi 2-7, 9-15 Mineral Claims,
Yellowknife Area, NWT.
Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 082495 (1987) -
Report on a Bulk Sampling Program and Metallurgical Testing on the Fi and Ki Lithium
Pegmatite Properties.
Jay W. Page, Equinox Resources Ltd.
Ki
NWT Assessment Report 080274 (1975) -
Report on a Geological Survey of the Ki 1-5 Minerals Claims, Yellowknife Area, NWT
. Murray
Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 080834 (1978) - A
Report on the 1978 Drilling Programme Performed on the Ki 1-5 Minerals Claims, Yellowknife
Area, NWT.
Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
Thor
NWT Assessment Report 080478 (1975) -
Report on a Geological Survey of the Thor 1-13 Minerals Claims, Yellowknife Area, NWT
.
Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 080831 (1978) -
A Report on the 1978 Drilling Programme Performed on the Thor 1-14 Minerals Claims,
Yellowknife Area, NWT
. Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
Hi
NWT Assessment Report 082128 (1986) -
Sampling Report on the Shorty Claim Pegmatite Dyke, Hidden Lake Area, District of Mackenize,
NWT.
Mark Senkiw, Continental Pacific Resources Inc.
NWT Assessment Report 062264 (1987) -
Sampling Report on the Shorty 1 Claim Pegmatite Dyke, Hidden Lake Area, District of
Mackenize, NWT.
Mark Senkiw, Continental Pacific Resources Inc.
NWT Assessment Report 082540 (1988) -
A Summary of Geological and Diamond Drill Programs Completed on the Lithium-Bearing
Shorty 1 Pegmatite Dyke.
Douglas Bryan, Continental Pacific Resources Inc.
Big East - Big West
NWT Assessment Report 080273 (1975) -
Report on a Geological Survey of the Big 1-13 Minerals Claims, Yellowknife Area, NWT
. Murray
Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 080957 (1979) -
A Report the 1979 Trenching Program Performed on the Big 1-13 Minerals Claims, Yellowknife
Area, NWT
. Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 082348 (1955) -
Diamond Drill Report - Little Hidden Property,
General Lithium Corporation.
Nite
NWT Assessment Report 080290 (1975) -
Report on a Geological Survey of the Nite 1-3 and 5-7 Mineral Claims, Yellowknife Area, NWT
.
Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 080831 (1978) -
A Report on the 1978 Drilling Programme Performed on the Nite 1-7 Mineral Claims, Yellowknife
Area, NWT
. Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
VO
NWT Assessment Report 080283 (1975) -
Report on a Geological Survey of the VO 1-9 Mineral Claims, Yellowknife Area, NWT
. Murray
Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
NWT Assessment Report 080833 (1978) -
A Report on the 1978 Drilling Programme Performed on the VO 1-9 Mineral Claims, Yellowknife
Area, NWT
. Murray Morrison, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
Cali
NWT Assessment Report 080685 (1977) -
Preliminary Geological Survey of the Cali 1-9, 1 Mineral Claims, Cantung Area, District of
Nahanni,
NWT
. Roy V. Beavon, Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements
(collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate",
"believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent
they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts
but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward-
looking statements including, among other things, that the Company intends to complete an
aggressive drill program in respect of the Project and that the Project could produce the largest hard
rock lithium resource in North America. These forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors.
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties
and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among other things, the possibility that
the Company is unable to obtain the necessary permits to complete its proposed drill program, that
the results of the drill program may be less favorable than anticipated, the continued availability of
capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, including the effects of
COVID-19. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this
cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or
results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by
such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions,
there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management's
expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The
Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new
events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the
Company's forward-looking statements.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
______________________________
1
Resource potential estimate is not NI 43-101 compliant. Tonnage estimate was made by projecting geologic contacts down to 500 feet (152
meters). Several of the pegmatites have been drilled down to this depth and have similar widths and grades as outcrops on surface. Estimates of