Clean Air Metals (TSX-V:AIR) is set to launch a 2,000m drilling program next week at the Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals Project in Canada.
The program will comprise 12 drillholes, focused on targeting near-surface high-grade zones at the Current deposit — which is considered the larger of the two disseminated sulphide resources included in Thunder Bay North.
The program will also focus on new targets uncovered from recent geophysical models.
Vice President of Exploration Lionnel Djon says this follow-up program aims to delineate additional high-grade pods at Current.
“The planned downhole electromagnetic surveys will help constrain the size of each high-grade zone being tested,” Djon says.
“Ultimately, we are working towards defining a mid-tonnage, high-grade, high-margin project.”
Under the Ontario Junior Exploration Program, Clean Air will receive up to C$200,000 ($223,737) to further advance its exploration efforts on the Escape down-plunge target.
The company is currently integrating recent results from its passive seismic surveys with other geophysical data to uncover targets for a future drilling program.
“This input of non-dilutive capital represents an important contribution to junior exploration companies like Clean Air Metals,” CEO Mike Garbutt says.
Minister of Mines George Pirie says investing in critical mineral exploration is pivotal to build a strong economy and supply chain in Ontario.
“This C$200,000 investment through the Ontario Junior Exploration Program will help Clean Air Metals unlock platinum deposits at their Thunder Bay North project, creating lasting opportunities for the mining sector and strengthening Ontario’s leadership in critical mineral development,” Pirie says.
In conjunction, Clean Air is preparing an application to move Thunder Bay North to an advanced exploration status in the first stage of the provincial mine permitting process.
The company applied in June 2022 to convert some of the project claims into a mineral lease. Clean Air notes the pending approval represents a critical step toward potentially extracting potential bulk samples.
The Thunder Bay North Project, which sits 40km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, hosts 13.8 million tonnes containing 2.4 million tonnes of platinum with significant potential for expansion down-plunge.
Clean Air Metals is a Canadian-based platinum and palladium explorer focused on advancing its flagship Thunder Bay North Project in Ontario.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Clean Air Metals
