Green Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:GT1) is expediting the mineral resource update for its Root Bay Lithium Project in Ontario, upon receiving encouraging assays from its infill drilling program at the project.
The company’s drill program delivered thick, high-grade assays including 18.5 metres at 1.69% lithium from 310.78 metres, as the company advances towards becoming Ontario's first lithium producer.
These consistent results have the potential to upgrade large parts of the current inferred resource category to indicated and increase the magnitude of the deposit within the maiden inferred mineral resource estimate of 8.1 million tonnes at 1.32% lithium.
An updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) for Root Bay is planned to be released in the coming weeks.
Moving forward, two drill rigs are now testing extensions to the east and west of the Root Bay deposit along a 3-kilometre extent entailing a 46-hole, 8,440-metre drill campaign.
$GT1 Green Technology Metals advances towards becoming Ontario's first lithium producer https://t.co/tmdpz3YjEs @green_metals #GT1 #ASX #ASXNews— Proactive Australia (@proactive_au) October 9, 2023
Thick high-grade pegmatites
GT1 CEO Luke Cox said: "We're excited about the preliminary results from the down dip extension at the Root Bay deposit, showcasing the presence of thick, high-grade pegmatites extending more than 300 metres below the current drilling depths with open pit and underground potential.
“With the infill drill program results received, we're expediting the process to update the MRE for Root Bay.
“The release of this updated MRE is anticipated in the coming weeks, which has the capability to expand the resource and convert parts of it from inferred to indicated resource category.”
Root Lithium Project exploration target area
Drill results
The first two down dip extension holes targeting open pit and underground resource growth at the Root Bay lithium deposit have successfully demonstrated that thick, high-grade pegmatites extend to at least 300 metres downdip from current drill depth extents, results include:
- 11.1 metres at 1.18% lithium from 440.6 metres; and
- 18.4 metres at 1.53% lithium from 580.1 metres.
Assay results for a further 50 infill drill holes at the Root Bay deposit continue to demonstrate the consistency of high-grade lithium mineralisation across the deposit.
Further significant high-grade results include:
- 17.1 metres at 1.81% Li2O from 326.3 metres;
- 18.1 metres at 1.67% Li2O from 326.1 metres;
- 18.6 metres at 1.58% Li2O from 5.5 metres;
- 17.7 metres at 1.63% Li2O from 129.0 metres;
- 17 metres at 1.64% Li2O from 100.7 metres;
- 21 metres at 1.32% Li2O from 220.0 metres; and
- 15.5 metres at 1.80% Li2O from 343.7 metres.
Exploration program
An extensive two-phase field exploration program is underway across the Root Project including ongoing diamond drilling at Root Bay to upgrade the confidence level in the current inferred MRE.
Field work also aims to identify new priority drill targets with a focus on the areas immediately east and west along the ridge from the current drilling at Root Bay.
The trend remains open and is categorised as highly prospective as the geological trend can be traced over the entire length of GT1’s tenement through the highly magnetic BIF unit that runs along the northern boundary of the Root Bay lithium deposit.
Root Bay planned drill holes.
Ontario’s first lithium producer
GT1 is advancing on its ambitious three-stage plan to be operational by 2025 with spodumene concentrate production at the Eastern Hub Seymour mine – which is 200 kilometres west of Root Bay.
Subsequent stages will see lithium hydroxide production in Thunder Bay by 2028, followed by an expansion in Root Bay in 2029.
The company is also investing in exploratory drilling and baseline studies while ensuring close engagement with indigenous communities.
In parallel to development activities, GT1 will continue to invest in exploration and high-impact drilling campaigns to grow the resource base and extend the mine life across both hubs.