Tinone Expands Zone of Lithium Mineralization and Discovers Higher Grade Samples up to 1.14% Li2O at Its Aberfoyle Project IN Tasmania, Australia
TINONE EXPANDS ZONE OF LITHIUM
MINERALIZATION AND DISCOVERS HIGHER
GRADE SAMPLES UP TO 1.14% Li2O AT ITS
ABERFOYLE PROJECT IN TASMANIA,
AUSTRALIA
TSX.V: TORC OTCQB: TORCF
VANCOUVER, BC
,
March 15, 2023
/CNW/ -
TinOne Resources Inc.
(TSXV: TORC) (OTCQB:
TORCF) (
Frankfurt
: 57Z0) ("
TinOne
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce that further rock
sampling has confirmed and expanded the previously reported lithium discovery at its 100%-owned,
9,600 hectare Aberfoyle Project ("
Aberfoyle
" or the "
Project
") located in the tier-one mining
jurisdiction of
Tasmania, Australia
.
Highlights
Follow-up surface rock sampling at the Dead Pig and Guinea Pig prospects has returned
analyses of up to 1.14% Li
2
O:
a total of 43 rock samples were collected in an area of
approximately 1 square kilometre (Figures 1, 2 and 3) where eleven samples returned grades
≥0.5% Li
2
O.
Emerging lithium district:
the Company holds a dominant ground position over the prospective
lithium-hosting granites in north-east
Tasmania
.
Project is underexplored:
The Project has never been targeted for lithium mineralization and
has also not seen modern systematic exploration for tin and tungsten.
Complementary research has commenced:
Mineralogical research has commenced in
conjunction with the world-renowned Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences at the
University of
Tasmania
("
CODES
").
"We are very excited with the lithium grades achieved to date at
Aberfoyle
,"
commented
Chris
Donaldson
, Executive Chairman.
"
Results
confirm the existence of significant lithium mineralization
in north-east Tasmania in a road accessible area that supports resource development. Importantly,
we believe that we control a dominant land position over the key prospective granites for lithium
mineralization in the state. The discovery of strong lithium mineralization of up to 1.14%
Li
2
O
at
the Three Pigs prospect represents an important milestone for the Company and complements a
portfolio of projects with high tin prospectivity.
In light of these latest results, we intend to
accelerate the lithium exploration activities at our properties in northeast
Tasmania
while
continuing to advance our exciting tin projects."
Key Results
Follow up sampling at the Dead Pig and Guinea Pig prospects have confirmed the earlier discovery
of lithium-bearing rocks. A further 43 rock samples were collected over an area of approximately 1
square kilometre at the Dead Pig and Guinea Pig prospects where previous reconnaissance
sampling returned five samples with elevated lithium values of 0.1% Li
2
O or above with a maximum
of 0.57% Li
2
O (see the Company's news release dated
February 8, 2023
). This new round of
sampling has returned eleven samples with Li
2
O > 0.50% and a maximum value of 1.14% Li
2
O.
Sampling to date has defined an area of approximately 12 hectares within which the >0.20% Li
2
O
samples occur (Figure 3). Preliminary interpretations indicate that the higher-grade mineralization
occurs in NNW-trending parallel zones of so far defined up to
250 m
in strike length. Further work is
required to better define the surface morphology of the mineralization and the width of mineralized
zones.
Greisen alteration of the type sampled at
Aberfoyle
is a typical alteration style associated with many
tin deposits globally and is also associated with certain large scale lithium deposits, where the mica
alteration minerals are lithium-bearing. Lithium grades (expressed as Li
2
O) in these mica-hosted
deposits are typically in the range 0.3-0.7% Li
2
O.
Table 1.
Results and sample descriptions for surface rock samples with Li
2
O grades greater than
0.5%.
Sample ID
Li
2
O
Sample Description
GM10333
1.14 %
Greisen vein showing planar contact with wall rock granite. Finely crystalline, dark grey mica
and lesser quartz.
GM10353
0.84 %
Coarse greisen. Dull green-grey colour with translucent to grey quartz and very fine green-grey
mica.
GM10349
0.78 %
Hard, dense, translucent to pale grey quartz with dull mid-grey mica
GM10358
0.75 %
Finely crystalline, massive greisen. Dull dark blue grey colour with translucent to grey quartz
and very fine green-grey mica.
GM10348
0.70 %
Coarse greisen. Dull green-grey colour with translucent to grey quartz and very fine green-grey
mica.
GM10352
0.68 %
Coarse greisen. Dull green-grey colour with translucent to grey quartz and very fine green-grey
mica.
GM10339
0.66 %
Massive greisen. Translucent to pale grey quartz-topaz? with very fine, green-black mica.
Speckled. Disseminated pyrite/chalcopyrite/malachite clots and limonite leach voids.
GM10354
0.65 %
Coarse greisen. Dull green-grey colour with translucent to grey quartz and very fine green-grey
mica.
GM10331
0.63 %
Float - cobble. White and dark grey very coarse grained greisen. Translucent quartz and dark
green-black mica and minor feldspar with remnant extrusive texture.
GM10343
0.59 %
Coarse greisen. Dull green-grey colour with translucent to grey quartz and very fine green-grey
mica.
GM10350
0.59 %
Coarse greisen. Dull green-grey colour with translucent to grey quartz and very fine green-grey
mica.
Next Steps
TinOne's field team continues to undertake geological mapping and additional systematic and
targeted rock sampling in the areas identified to-date and in other areas of similar altered granite
known from historic records. In order to define the extent of anomalous lithium within soils derived
from the granite host, soil sampling in these areas has been completed for a large part of
EL27/2004 with first results expected imminently.
In addition to the ongoing work in the lithium-anomalous areas identified on EL27/2004 to date, the
Company plans a program of mapping and sampling on the southern outlier part of EL27/2004 at
Royal George (Figure 2). This part of the tenement covers an area around the historic Royal George
tin mine and is hosted by a similar tin granite to the Dead Pig area. As such, the area is considered
highly prospective for both lithium and tin. There has been no effective on-ground exploration in this
area for approximately four decades.
The Company has provided samples to CODES for mineral chemistry analytical work to determine
the distribution of lithium within the minerals that comprise the lithium-bearing rocks. CODES has an
ongoing project entitled "Tasmanian Tin Granites" and has access to highly skilled personnel with
significant experience and knowledge in the field of tin granites and geometallurgical studies. This
analytical work will inform future studies into the metallurgical characteristics of the lithium
mineralization.
Results from ongoing rock sampling are expected in the coming weeks and will be released as soon
as they are received.
Figure 1:
Location of the Company’s projects in the mining friendly jurisdiction of Tasmania (CNW
Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 1:
Location of the Company's projects in the mining friendly jurisdiction of
Tasmania
Figure 2:
Location plan showing lithium prospect and anomalies on tenement EL27/2004 (CNW
Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 2:
Location plan showing lithium prospect and anomalies on tenement EL27/2004
Figure 3:
Location of samples with high lithium in the Dead Pig – Guinea Pig area, also showing old
prospecting workings identified by field mapping and from LiDAR. The zone of elevated lithium
(>0.20% Li2O) is constrained geologically on the western side, however remains open in all other
directions. (CNW Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 3:
Location of samples with high lithium in the Dead Pig – Guinea Pig area, also showing
old prospecting workings identified by field mapping and from LiDAR. The zone of elevated lithium
(>0.20%
Li
2
O)
is constrained geologically on the western side, however remains open in all other
direction
s.
Figure 4: Photographs of lithium-bearing rocks from this round of sampling.
GM10333 – the right half
of the sample is predominantly fine-grained zinnwaldite with coarser quartz and topaz. The left half
shows medium to coarse grained quartz and topaz with interstitial fine to very fine-grained
zinnwaldite. GM10353 – This sample shows domains of coarse-grained quartz and topaz and
domains of fine grained zinnwaldite, quartz and topaz. GM10349 – This sample is comprised of a
relatively homogenous distribution of coarse-grained quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite. GM10358 – This
is a fine to medium-grained rock with a homogeneous distribution of quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite.
Note that these photos are not intended to be representative of broader mineralization on the
Project. (CNW Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 4: Photographs of lithium-bearing rocks from this round of sampling.
GM10333 – the right half
of the sample is predominantly fine-grained zinnwaldite with coarser quartz and topaz. The left half
shows medium to coarse grained quartz and topaz with interstitial fine to very fine-grained
zinnwaldite. GM10353 – This sample shows domains of coarse-grained quartz and topaz and
domains of fine grained zinnwaldite, quartz and topaz. GM10349 – This sample is comprised of a
relatively homogenous distribution of coarse-grained quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite. GM10358 – This
is a fine to medium-grained rock with a homogeneous distribution of quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite.
Note that these photos are not intended to be representative of broader mineralization on the
Project. (CNW Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 4: Photographs of lithium-bearing rocks from this round of sampling.
GM10333 – the right half
of the sample is predominantly fine-grained zinnwaldite with coarser quartz and topaz. The left half
shows medium to coarse grained quartz and topaz with interstitial fine to very fine-grained
zinnwaldite. GM10353 – This sample shows domains of coarse-grained quartz and topaz and
domains of fine grained zinnwaldite, quartz and topaz. GM10349 – This sample is comprised of a
relatively homogenous distribution of coarse-grained quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite. GM10358 – This
is a fine to medium-grained rock with a homogeneous distribution of quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite.
Note that these photos are not intended to be representative of broader mineralization on the
Project. (CNW Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 4: Photographs of lithium-bearing rocks from this round of sampling.
GM10333 – the right half
of the sample is predominantly fine-grained zinnwaldite with coarser quartz and topaz. The left half
shows medium to coarse grained quartz and topaz with interstitial fine to very fine-grained
zinnwaldite. GM10353 – This sample shows domains of coarse-grained quartz and topaz and
domains of fine grained zinnwaldite, quartz and topaz. GM10349 – This sample is comprised of a
relatively homogenous distribution of coarse-grained quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite. GM10358 – This
is a fine to medium-grained rock with a homogeneous distribution of quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite.
Note that these photos are not intended to be representative of broader mineralization on the
Project. (CNW Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 4:
Photographs of lithium-bearing rocks from this round of sampling. GM10333 – the right
half of the sample is predominantly fine-grained zinnwaldite with coarser quartz and topaz. The left
half shows medium to coarse grained quartz and topaz with interstitial fine to very fine-grained
zinnwaldite. GM10353 – This sample shows domains of coarse-grained quartz and topaz and
domains of fine grained zinnwaldite, quartz and topaz. GM10349 – This sample is comprised of a
relatively homogenous distribution of coarse-grained quartz, topaz and zinnwaldite. GM10358 –
This is a fine to medium-grained rock with a homogeneous distribution of quartz, topaz and
zinnwaldite. Note that these photos are not intended to be representative of broader mineralization
on the Project.
Figure 5: Thin section photographs of sample GM10402a taken with polarized light (crossed polars).
Coloured grains are zinnwaldite, large ragged grey grains are quartz, smaller dark grains are topaz.
Note that this photo is not intended to be representative of broader mineralization on the Project.
(CNW Group/TinOne Resources Corp.)
Figure 5:
Thin section photographs of sample GM10402a taken with polarized light (crossed
polars). Coloured grains are zinnwaldite, large ragged grey grains are quartz, smaller dark grains
are topaz. Note that this photo is not intended to be representative of broader mineralization on the
Project.
Figure 6: Thin section photographs of sample GM10403 taken with polarized light (crossed polars).
Coloured grains are zinnwaldite, large grey central grain is topaz. Note that this photo is not intended
to be representative of broader mineralization on the Project. (CNW Group/TinOne Resources
Corp.)
Figure 6:
Thin section photographs of sample GM10403 taken with polarized light (crossed
polars). Coloured grains are zinnwaldite, large grey central grain is topaz. Note that this photo is
not intended to be representative of broader mineralization on the Project.
Mineralogical Analysis
Several samples from the Dead Pig prospects were sent to Professor
Tony Crawford
(University of
Tasmania
) for petrographic studies of thin sections cut from the rock samples (Figures 6 and 7). His
observations on sample GM10402a, taken from the same outcrop as sample GM10216 (previously
reported, 0.57% Li
2
O), indicate that the quartz-topaz-zinnwaldite rock appears "
to have crystallized
initially as a relatively coarse-grained quartz-zinnwaldite-topaz intergrowth, presumably from
granite-related hydrothermal solutions rather than a late-stage, strongly fractionated granitic
magma based on the absence of feldspars. A fracturing event was followed by invasion of a
strongly acidic hydrothermal fluid that led to local dissolution and recrystallization of the coarser-
grained assemblage to the fine-grained quartz-zinnwaldite-topaz aggregates
."
Sample GM10403 (assays pending) is described as "
a mineralogically simple but unusual
metasomatic/hydrothermal rock
." The zinnwaldite content is estimated at up to 80% of the rock with
10-15% topaz, minor quartz and clay-sericite. Professor Crawford comments that, "
the absence of
feldspars in this rock suggests that it is likely to have crystallized from a late magmatic
hydrothermal solution charged with Li and F."
About the Aberfoyle Project
The
Aberfoyle
project area straddles the boundary between the Silurian to Devonian Mathinna
Supergroup sedimentary rocks and the Devonian Ben Lomond Granite. The historic
Aberfoyle
(tin)
and Storeys Creek (tin-tungsten) mines as well as other vein systems are hosted in the sedimentary
rocks and occur as strike extensive systems of sheeted and stockwork veining. Elevated lithium has
not previously been reported from the project area.
Historic records and drilling indicate the mineralized vein system at
Aberfoyle
is up to 60 metres
wide, 800 metres in length and extends approximately 400 metres in the down dip direction. The
Lutwyche prospect occurs approximately 1 kilometre northeast of
Aberfoyle
and is comprised of two
sets of mineralized veins which can be traced along strike for approximately 750 metres.
An additional sediment-hosted vein system, the Kookaburra, is located 200 metres southwest of the
main Lutwyche vein system and is known to be approximately 40 metres wide with an along strike
extent of at least several hundred metres.
Mineralization at Storeys Creek is hosted within a 30 to 50 metre wide, north-northwest striking
sheeted vein array which dips to the southwest. The system can be traced along strike for 300
metres and extends 400 metres in the down dip direction. The Ben Lomond Granite crops out
approximately 1km west of the mine and has been identified at depth at 180 metres below the
surface.
Additional poorly known sediment-hosted vein systems occur at Brocks, Eastern Hill and elsewhere
in the tenement.
Granite-hosted occurrences are developed throughout the exposed areas of granitoid outcrop and
consist of vein, disseminated and breccia style occurrences with associated greisen style alteration.
These have given rise to historic small scale hard rock and more extensive alluvial production in the
Gipps Creek,
Rex Hill
,
Ben Lomond
, Royal George and other areas.
The Company interprets that both sediment- and granite-hosted systems have developed in
structural corridors of multi-kilometre extent and that historic exploration has not systematically
explored these corridors. TinOne believes systematic exploration of these prospective corridors will
result in the definition of high-quality drill targets.
Sample Methodology
Rock samples reported here were collected by experienced geologists from outcrop, float and
historical mining spoil dumps. Samples were typically 1.5 to 2.5 kg and were placed in pre-
numbered, calico bags and then into large rice sacks which were sealed for shipping. Due to the
nature of the available sample media, the samples are not continuous channel samples and consist
of multiple individual small rock pieces collected from an area considered representative of the
lithology being sampled.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Rock samples were delivered to ALS Limited in Burnie,
Australia
for sample preparation and then
forwarded to ALS Brisbane for analysis. The ALS Brisbane facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC
17025 certified. Tin and tungsten are analysed by ICP-MS following lithium borate fusion (ALS
method ME-MS85), overlimit results are reanalysed by XRF (ALS method XRF15b). Forty-eight
element multi-element analyses are conducted by ICP-MS after a four-acid digestion (ALS method
ME-MS61).
Control samples comprising certified reference samples (including reference material certified for
lithium) duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and
analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol.
About TinOne
TinOne is a TSX Venture Exchange listed Canadian public company with a high-quality portfolio of
tin, tin/tungsten and lithium projects in the Tier 1 mining jurisdictions of
Tasmania
and
New South
Wales, Australia
. The Company controls some of the most important tin districts in
Tasmania
,
including
Aberfoyle
, Rattler Range and Great Pyramid and is focussed on advancing its highly
prospective portfolio. TinOne is supported by Inventa Capital Corp.
Qualified Person
The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been
reviewed and approved by Dr.
Stuart Smith
., Technical Adviser for TinOne. Dr. Smith is a Qualified
Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this