Bourier Lithium
Project Update: Lomiko Metals and Critical Elements report
discoveries and identify lithium targets for exploration using
GoldSpot Discoveries' Artificial Intelligence methods
MONTREAL-- September
14, 2021 -- InvestorsHub NewsWire -- Lomiko
Metals Inc. (Lomiko) ((TSX-V:
LMR, OTCQB: LMRMF, FSE: DH8C))
("Lomiko Metals
Inc or "Lomiko" or the "Corporation") and Critical Elements Lithium
Corporation (the "Company"
or "Critical
Elements")
(TSX-V: CRE) (US OTCQX: CRECF) (FSE: F12) mandated GoldSpot Discoveries
Corp. (TSX-V: SPOT) (OTCQX: SPOFF) ("GoldSpot") to conduct a remote
targeting process for lithium, on the Bourier claims within the
Nemiscau belt (Figure 1). GoldSpot uses cutting edge technology and
geoscientific expertise to mitigate exploration risks and make
mineral discoveries.
To review the
option agreement please see news
April 27, 2021
Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, Chief
Executive Officer of the Critical Elements, noted, "We are
confident that continued exploration, benefitting from the
deployment of GoldSpot's AI analysis and our joint geoscientific
expertise, will continue to reveal the considerable potential of
the Bourier property."
A. Paul Gill,
Lomiko Metals CEO stated: "The results indicate Bourier requires
extensive attention.
Combined with
Lomiko's La Loutre Project which has already reported a PEA
on
July 29, 2021, Lomiko has had the best
summer of its history."
Release Highlights
-
GoldSpot
Discoveries Corp.'s proprietary approach of Artificial Intelligence
(AI) and geological interpretation highlight lithium potential at
Bourier claims within the Nemiscau greenstone belt;
-
A total of 15 high
to moderate prospectivity lithium targets were
identified.
-
Preliminary Summer
2021 field exploration results have revealed the discovery of five
new sectors of spodumene-rich (Li) pegmatites, highlighting the
potential of the Bourier project.
-
Critical Elements
and Lomiko Metals (Joint Venture) boast a unique and favorable land
position for lithium exploration within the Nemiscau
Belt.
Methodology
The study hinged on digital
extraction from an exhaustive collection of compiled data,
including assessment files, government data and academic studies.
This dataset provided outcrop/sample description, bedrock geology,
geochemical analyses, and geophysical surveys. Original data was
cleaned and combined to create a comprehensive data set for
geological interpretation and machine learning
processes.
Geological
Interpretation
The compilation of discrete outcrop
observations allowed a reliable update to existing geologic maps,
resulting in a refined lithium exploration-oriented pegmatite map.
A total of 99 pegmatite bodies were added to the current geological
map, highlighting previously unknown potential for economic lithium
mineralization.
An up-to-date structural
interpretation was created based on a high-resolution aeromagnetic
survey commissioned by Critical Elements. This survey revealed
structurally complex patterns, including large-scale folds and
major ENE-trending ductile fault zones.
Lithium Target
Generation
GoldSpot generated lithium targets
using a knowledge-based approach with Artificial Intelligence (AI)
data-driven methods.
Process
The AI data analysis trains machine
learning algorithms to predict the presence of lithium using all
variables (features), both numeric and interpreted on a 10 x 10 m
grid cell datacube. Once the model performs to a satisfactory
level, results produced include:
1) a series of zones with
relatively high probability of containing lithium;
2) a ranking of feature importance
for each input feature.
Performance
The best prediction model for
lithium at Bourier was obtained using the Extended Euclidean
Algorithm for which performance metric was at 75% precision. The
updated lithology and structural interpretation were the dominant
contributors to the targeting model.
Field
Work and Preliminary Results
In preparation of field work,
GoldSpot provided a map of probable outcrop zones, resulting from
the AI analysis on high-resolution satellite imagery. The machine
learning-assisted outcrop detection allows for time- and
cost-efficient field exploration.
An exploration crew composed of
Critical Elements' and GoldSpot's geoscientists conducted a 20-day
prospecting program at the Bourier project, with focus on the high
to moderate lithium targets generated by GoldSpot. The highlights
of this program include the discovery of five new sectors of
spodumene-rich (Li) pegmatite (laboratory analysis results are
pending; Figure 2). These discoveries were made within, or the
extension, of GoldSpot's targets.
Figure 1:
Location of Critical Elements' projects, Eeyou Istchee, James Bay,
Québec. Critical Elements and Lomiko Metals' Bourier project on the
Northeastern part of the Nemiscau belt.
Discovery
The main discovery, located about
11 km NE of the Bourier Lake, consists of muscovite and garnet
pegmatites showing 1-5% of centimetric-size spodumene crystals
(Figure 3), over an outcropping area of 40 x 30 m. Additional
spodumene-rich pegmatites were sporadically found within a 1 km
trend from the main discovery, highlighting the potential for wider
mineralization system. Four other spodumene-rich pegmatites zones
were found elsewhere on the property
Figure 2: Lithium
targets and location of new spodumene-rich pegmatites within
Critical Elements and Lomiko Metals' Bourier claims.
Results
A total of 15 lithium exploration
targets were identified (Figure 2), reducing the area of
investigation to approximately 9.5% of the total claim holding. The
newly interpreted pegmatite outcrops largely controlled the
distribution of the lithium targets.
Figure 3:
Main discovery. Spodumene-rich pegmatite, with aureole of
Li-mica.
Qualified Person
All
technical information, not pertaining to the PEA, in this news
release has been reviewed and approved by Mike Petrina, P.Eng., who
is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI
43-101").
About Lomiko Metals Inc.
Lomiko Metals
holds a 100% interest in its La Loutre graphite development in
southern Quebec. Located 180 kilometres
northwest of Montreal, the property consists of one large,
continuous block with 42 minerals claims totalling 2,509 hectares
(25.1km2).
Lomiko also has a joint venture option to earn 70% of the Bourier
project from Critical Minerals consisting of 203 claims, for a
total ground position of 10,252.20 hectares (102.52
km2)
in Canada's lithium triangle near the James Bay region of Quebec
that has lithium deposits and mineralization trends.
About
Critical Elements Lithium Corporation
Critical Elements Lithium
Corporation aspires to become a large, responsible supplier of
lithium to the flourishing electric vehicle and energy storage
system industries. To this end, Critical Elements Lithium is
advancing the wholly owned, high purity Rose lithium project in
Quebec. Rose is the Company's first lithium project to be advanced
within a highly prospective land portfolio of over 700 square
kilometers. In 2017, the Company completed a robust feasibility
study on Rose Phase 1 for the production of high quality spodumene
concentrate. The internal rate of return for the Project is
estimated at 34.9% after tax, with a net present value estimated at
C$726 million at an 8% discount rate. Capital cost parameters were
confirmed in 2019 by Primero Group in the context of a Guaranteed
Maximum Price under an Early Contractor Involvement agreement, as a
prelude to an Engineering, Procurement and Construction process.
Detailed engineering for Phase I is expected to conclude this year
as the Company plans to deliver technical studies for Phase II; the
conversion of spodumene concentrate to high quality lithium
hydroxide. In the Company's view, Quebec is strategically
well-positioned for US and EU markets and boasts exceptional
infrastructure including a low-cost, low-carbon power grid
featuring 93% hydroelectricity. The project has
received approval from the Federal Minister of Environment and
Climate Change on the recommendation of the Joint Assessment
Committee, comprised of representatives from the Impact Assessment
Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government; we await similar
approval under the Quebec environmental assessment process
near-term. The Company also has a strong, formalized
relationship with the Cree Nation.
About
GoldSpot Discoveries Corp.
GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. (TSXV:
SPOT) (OTCQX: SPOFF) is a technology services company in mineral
exploration. GoldSpot is a leading team of expert scientists who
merge geoscience and data science to deliver bespoke solutions that
transform the mineral discovery process. In the race to make
discoveries, GoldSpot produces Smart Targets and advanced
geological modelling that saves times, reduces costs and provides
accurate results.
For
more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at
www.lomiko.com, contact A.
Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email:
info@lomiko.com.
On
Behalf of the Board,
"A. Paul Gill"
Chief Executive
Officer
Neither the TSX
Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory
authority has approved or disapproved the information contained
herein.