Midland Exploration Inc. (
“Midland”)
(
TSX-V: MD), in partnership with Rio Tinto
Exploration Canada Inc. (“
RTEC”), is pleased to
announce preliminary results from the first drilling campaign for
lithium on the Galinée project, and results from surface
prospecting on Galinée, Wookie, and Shire projects. The 2024
drilling campaign’s main objective was to test the 2023 Iceberg,
Iceberg South and Iceberg South-West lithium showings (see press
release by Midland dated January 16, 2024) while prospecting aimed
to find new showings. This press release reports results from the
first thirteen (13) drill holes of the 2024 campaign out of a total
of twenty-eight (28). The Galinée project is located approximately
5 kilometers east of the Adina lithium deposit held by Winsome
Resources (“Winsome”), is wholly owned by Midland, and is subject
to an option agreement signed with RTEC in June 2023 (see press
release by Midland dated June 14, 2023) and amended in April 2024
(see press release by Midland dated April 23, 2024).
Highlights:
- On Galinée, best results
from the first thirteen (13) drill holes out of twenty-eight
(28):
- 1.38%
Li2O over 37.86 meters, including
1.88% Li2O over 21.35 meters
(TLIB0007);
- 1.94%
Li2O over 20.97 meters, and also
2.47% Li2O over 11.52 meters
(TLIB0006);
- 1.49%
Li2O over 26.50 meters, including
1.85% Li2O over 19.20 meters
(TLIB0002);
- 0.89%
Li2O over 33.30 meters, including
1.87% Li2O over 16.70 meters
(TLIB0004);
- On Galinée, at least seven
(7) meter to decameter-scale spodumene pegmatites were intersected
during the 2024 drilling campaign, which remain open and further to
be tested;
- On Galinée, two (2) new
lithium showings were identified in 2024,White Lightning and Snow
Fox, with selected grab samples up to 4.62%
Li2O (outcrop) and 4.19%
Li2O (boulder)
respectively;
- On Wookie, identification
of the Grogu spodumene pegmatite showing.
Galinée 2024 Drilling Program
The 2024 drilling program on Galinée consisted
of twenty-one (21) diamond drill holes and seven (7) reverse
circulation drill holes totaling 6,284.86 meters, out of which
819.92 meters were reverse circulation drilling. Assay results from
the first thirteen (13) diamond drill holes have been received,
while the results for the remaining fifteen (15) drill holes are
currently pending and will be published in an upcoming press
release once made available. The best results from the first
thirteen (13) holes are summarized in the table below.
Hole |
|
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
Li2O% |
TLIB0001 |
|
9.9 |
24.8 |
14.9 |
1.48 |
TLIB0002 |
|
7.0 |
33.5 |
26.5 |
1.49 |
Including |
14.3 |
33.5 |
19.2 |
1.85 |
TLIB0004 |
|
201.1 |
234.4 |
33.3 |
1.09 |
Including |
217.6 |
234.3 |
16.7 |
1.87 |
TLIB0006 |
|
41.6 |
62.6 |
20.97 |
1.94 |
|
188.6 |
200.1 |
11.52 |
2.47 |
TLIB0007 |
|
105.44 |
143.3 |
37.86 |
1.38 |
Including |
121.95 |
143.3 |
21.35 |
1.88 |
TLIB0011 |
|
81.71 |
91.47 |
9.76 |
1.46 |
|
157.98 |
179.88 |
21.9 |
1.09 |
TLIB0012 |
|
279.88 |
295.96 |
16.08 |
0.90 |
TLIB0013 |
|
100.54 |
121.06 |
20.52 |
0.70 |
The objectives of the 2024 drilling campaign
were to test the 2023 Iceberg Showing area with diamond drilling
while using reverse circulation drilling to test conceptual,
prospecting and geophysical targets. The drilling campaign mainly
focused on the Iceberg showing and also the Iceberg South and
Southwest showings, which were internally renamed as the White
Stripes and Surge Showings (these names are used herein). New
sampling on the White Stripes showing returned 6.37% Li2O on a
selected grab sample. Surface geological mapping combined with
drilling has identified a series of at least seven (7) meter to
decameter-scale spodumene pegmatite bodies. The highlight result
thus far returned core length interval composites of 1.38% Li2O
over 37.86 meters, including 1.88% Li2O over 21.35 meters, in hole
TLIB0007.
HoleID |
Easting (m) |
Northing (m) |
Azimuth (°) |
Dip (°) |
Depth (m) |
Core Size |
Type |
TLIB0001 |
676649 |
5909758 |
13 |
-45 |
240.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0002 |
676613 |
5909697 |
13 |
-45 |
234.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0003 |
676860 |
5909819 |
13 |
-45 |
285.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0004 |
676926 |
5909884 |
193 |
-45 |
270.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0005 |
676609 |
5909695 |
13 |
-70 |
219.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0006 |
676742 |
5909751 |
13 |
-60 |
294.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0007 |
676609 |
5909695 |
193 |
-70 |
198.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0008 |
676459 |
5909742 |
13 |
-60 |
177.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0009 |
676503 |
5909121 |
13 |
-45 |
225.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0010 |
675810 |
5909224 |
193 |
-60 |
168.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0011 |
676783 |
5909609 |
13 |
-70 |
315.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0012 |
676564 |
5909440 |
13 |
-60 |
345.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0013 |
676488 |
5909022 |
13 |
-45 |
279.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0014 |
676959 |
5909500 |
13 |
-60 |
384.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0015 |
678459 |
5909235 |
343 |
-45 |
228.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0016 |
676863 |
5910037 |
13 |
-60 |
261.74 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0017 |
676402 |
5909976 |
13 |
-60 |
171.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0018 |
677070 |
5909621 |
13 |
-60 |
294.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0019 |
677316 |
5909627 |
13 |
-60 |
105.16 |
3¼" |
RC drilling |
TLIB0020 |
676458 |
5909740 |
193 |
-60 |
273.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0021 |
677042 |
5909281 |
13 |
-60 |
100.58 |
3¼" |
RC drilling |
TLIB0022 |
677176 |
5909176 |
13 |
-60 |
150.88 |
3¼" |
RC drilling |
TLIB0023 |
677418 |
5909564 |
13 |
-60 |
321.00 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0024 |
677949 |
5908838 |
13 |
-60 |
100.58 |
3¼" |
RC drilling |
TLIB0025 |
677375 |
5910112 |
13 |
-75 |
150.88 |
3¼" |
RC drilling |
TLIB0026 |
677171 |
5909176 |
13 |
-60 |
283.20 |
HQ |
Diamond drilling |
TLIB0027 |
677540 |
5910022 |
13 |
-60 |
117.35 |
3¼" |
RC drilling |
TLIB0028 |
676008 |
5909683 |
13 |
-60 |
94.49 |
3¼" |
RC drilling |
Preliminary models show that the spodumene
pegmatite bodies dip shallowly, typically less than 30 degrees, and
are often observed as stacked sets in the drill holes – the
drilling commonly intersected multiple mineralized pegmatite bodies
with variable thickness. Preliminary structural studies and 3D
modelling suggest that these pegmatites could have sigmoidal
geometries. Mineralogical studies show that the major lithium phase
at Iceberg is spodumene with minor muscovite and cookeite
alteration. Minor petalite is present and holmquistite is often
present in the amphibolitic country rock adjacent to pegmatites.
The spodumene pegmatite bodies remain open along strike and to
depth and more drilling will be necessary to more precisely
determine their geometry and extension.
Budget approval is currently in discussion and
pending for the next phase of drilling. Early metallurgical tests
are also being evaluated on select core sections using LIBS
scanning to identify and quantitatively determine grain size and
the lithium mineralogy.
Galinée 2024 Prospecting Program
Project scale surface prospecting was conducted
in parallel to the drilling campaign and was successful in
identifying two (2) new lithium showings. The Snow Fox showing,
located approximately 1.5 kilometers southeast of Iceberg, consists
of a series of angular and metric size spodumene pegmatite boulders
interpreted to be locally sourced. No pegmatite outcrop was
observed at the surface to-date, but boulder selected sampling
returned up to 4.19% Li2O and nearby amphibolitic outcrops contain
holmquistite. The White Lightning showing consists of a coarse
grained spodumene-bearing pegmatite with an approximate 7 by
30-meter footprint located approximately 1.5 kilometers east of the
Iceberg area. Selected grab sampling returned up to 4.62% Li2O.
Preliminary structural observations on the outcrop suggest that the
pegmatites herein have intruded along a shear zone in areas of
dilatation and originating from a pegmatitic fluid source at
depth.
Wookie and Shire 2024 Prospecting Program
The first prospecting campaign for lithium on
Wookie successfully identified a new lithium occurrence. The Grogu
Showing is identified on a claim cell located between the two main
blocks of the Wookie project and consists of a relatively steeply
dipping 600 meters long by 1-32 meters wide pegmatite body
containing local spodumene. Channel sampling was conducted to
better understand the grade and its distribution. Results are still
pending.
On the Shire Project, preliminary prospecting
and geological mapping located an approximately 1,000 x 350 meters
size pegmatite locally containing what appears to be an altered
spodumene pod. Lithium-bearing phases have yet to be
identified.
About the Galinée Project
The Galinée project is located approximately 5
kilometers due east of the Adina deposit (mineral resource estimate
of 77.8 MT at 1.15% Li2O, see press release by Winsome dated May
28, 2024) held by Winsome. This deposit is located at the contact
between amphibolites of the Trieste Formation to the south and
felsic intrusives to the north and is marked by a major structure
that likely controlled the emplacement of pegmatites at Adina. The
same highly favourable contact zone is present on the property over
more than 7 kilometers, and the Iceberg lithium showing was
discovered along this contact (see press release by Midland dated
September 19, 2023).
About the Wookie and Shire Projects
The Wookie project is located about 40
kilometers north-northwest of Arcadium’s Galaxy deposit. The Wookie
project is underlain by a lower Amphibolite facies metamorphosed
bedrock, recognized to be the most favourable metamorphic facies
for lithium pegmatites worldwide. Furthermore, most of the lithium
deposits in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay area are found in
pegmatites emplaced within mafic volcanic or intrusive rocks units.
The Wookie project covers more than twenty (20) square kilometers
of mafic volcanic rocks. Several historical Quebec government rock
samples of pegmatites collected close to the project have returned
anomalous tantalum, cesium and rubidium values. While these samples
were not analyzed for lithium, this element suite is strongly
suggestive of favourable LCT (lithium-cesium-tantalum)
pegmatites.
The Shire project is located within amphibolites
of the Lac des Montagnes geological Group, which hosts Nemaska
Lithium’s Whabouchi lithium deposit about 60 kilometers southwest
of Shire. The Whabouchi lithium deposit is characterized by a
pegmatite intrusion assigned to the Senay granitic Suite, which
also occurs on the Shire project. This project is also located
along a major structure that could be critical for the emplacement
of lithium-bearing pegmatites in the area (the boundary between the
La Grande and Opatica geological subprovinces).
Quality Control
RTEC sampling protocols include the insertion of
blanks, duplicates, and standards as such: Internal blanks were
inserted at the beginning of every drill hole, or sample batch, and
were inserted every 30 samples throughout. Field duplicates of ¼
cut drill cores were also inserted every 30 samples (with the
parent sample immediately preceding). At least 1 CRM standard was
inserted within every intersected pegmatite interval. CRM materials
used included OREAS 750, OREAS 751, OREAS 753 and OREAS 999 for
mineralized samples; OREAS 520 and OREAS 524 for unmineralized
materials. All samples were prepared by ALS Laboratories in Thunder
Bay using a preparation package whereby the entire sample is
crushed to 70% less than 2-millimetre mesh size using a Boyd
crusher and splitter combination. A one-kilogram split of crushed
material is pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns mesh
size. ALS internally sends all pulps to ALS Geochemistry in
Vancouver for analysis.
Pegmatite materials were analyzed by a
multi-method analytical package: (1) ME-MS61L four acid digest and
ICP-MS multicollector multi-element analysis, (2) ME-ICP06 lithium
borate fusion whole rock analysis, and (3) ME-MS81 lithium borate
fusion trace element analysis. All samples reporting >4500 ppm
Li are reported by both a dilution method from the four-acid digest
ME-MS61L and reanalyzed by Li-ICP82b sodium peroxide fusion and
ICP-AES determination.
Cautionary Statements
Grab samples are selective by nature and may not
be representative of mineralized zones. Furthermore, the true
thickness of mineralized intervals cannot be determined with the
information currently available.
The presence of pegmatite is not necessarily
indicative of lithium mineralization.
Lithium mineralization occurring at the deposits
mentioned in this press release is not necessarily indicative of
mineralization that may be intersected on projects held by Midland
and mentioned in this press release.
About Midland
Midland targets the excellent mineral potential
of Quebec to make the discovery of new world-class deposits of gold
and critical metals. Midland is proud to count on reputable
partners such as RTEC, BHP Canada Inc., Barrick Gold Corp.,
Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd, Probe Gold Inc., Agnico Eagle Mines
Limited, Electric Elements Mining Corp., SOQUEM Inc., Nunavik
Mineral Exploration Fund, and Abcourt Mines Inc. Midland prefers to
work in partnership and intends to quickly conclude additional
agreements in regard to newly acquired properties. Management is
currently reviewing other opportunities and projects to build up
Midland’s portfolio and generate shareholder value.
Qualified Person and Chief Geologist
Jean-François Larivière, P. Geo, Ph. D, prepared this press release
and verified the Galinée project data as Midland’s qualified person
(QP) within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. The QP
has verified the data as per clause 3.2 – given they are
confidently identifying spodumene using these methods.
For further information, please consult
Midland’s website or contact:
Gino Roger, President and Chief Executive OfficerTel.:
450 420-5977Fax: 450 420-5978Email:
info@midlandexploration.comWebsite:
https://www.midlandexploration.com/
Neither 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 release.
This press release may contain forward-looking
statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially
from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those
described in Midland’s periodic reports including the annual report
or in the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities
regulatory authorities.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
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