Loyal Lithium (ASX:LLI) is partnering with Montreal-based McGill University to gain access to a C$1 million ($1.1 million) research grant and help speed up exploration at its Canadian lithium projects.
Researchers at McGill University will investigate the unique geological settings of the Hidden Lake Lithium Project in the Northwest Territories and the Trieste Lithium Project in James Bay, Québec.
The aim is to develop lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite models to help explorers like Loyal Lithium quickly identify large spodumene occurrences, reducing exploration time and cost.
McGill University’s Hydrothermal Geochemistry Group has taken an interest in the Trieste Greenstone Belt because of the mineralisation uncovered within several projects in the region including Winsome Resources’ (ASX:WR1) Adina Project, Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and Midland Exploration’s (TSX-V:MD) Galinée Project and Loyal Lithium’s Trieste Lithium Project.
Maiden exploration undertaken by Loyal Lithium at the Trieste Project in 2023 uncovered six spodumene pegmatite dykes. The junior explorer followed this up with drilling this year, which returned “shallow, high grade lithium mineralisation”.
Loyal Lithium kicked off a field program in late August to conduct field prospecting and till sampling along five distinct resistivity trends that span 22km and align with all six of the spodumene-bearing pegmatite dyke outcrops.
Lead researcher Professor Anthony Williams-Jones, along with research associates and post-doctoral students, have now joined the site team to collect over 300 core samples for extensive analysis.
Williams-Jones says the research is intended to add value by providing a deeper insight into the origins of the rich spodumene pegmatites seen at surface at the Trieste Lithium Project.
“Research projects like this are key to promoting and strengthening links between research organisations and industry in Québec and across Canada,” he says.
“The knowledge transfer will strengthen Québec’s position as a leader in critical metals research and innovation.”
The grant is being provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Loyal Lithium Managing Director Adam Ritchie says that harnessing the expertise of academia, industry, and government can accelerate the advancement of the Canadian critical minerals industry and develop optimal development solutions for future lithium sources.
Loyal Lithium, which has a market capitalisation of $12.1 million, has $6.3 million in funding to advance its project portfolio.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Loyal Lithium
