ASX-listed company Pure Resources (ASX:PR1) reports it has secured 160km-square of lithium exploration claims in the Superior Province of Quebec in Canada.
The company says the claims are situated 65km northeast of mineral exploration company Patriot Battery Metals’ (TSXV:PMET) Corvette Discovery.
Pure’s prospectus released to the ASX on 19 April 2022 outlined the company’s use of funds of which Pure has allocated $400,000 for project generative activities.
Pure Resources Executive Chairman Patric Glovac says the recently approved Laforge claims are the result of the company’s global review for future facing metal opportunities.
“The Laforge Greenstone Belt was of particular interest as it was recognised that the geology is analogous to lithium belts in Canada and globally.
“The Laforge Greenstone Belt was of particular interest as it was recognised that the geology is analogous to lithium belts in Canada and globally”
I am extremely proud of the geological team to identify and secure these greenfield claims covering part of the 70km long Laforge Greenstone Belt that has structural and lithological analogies to the nearby La Grande Greenstone Belt, host to the Corvette pegmatite discoveries.
We believe these claims, whilst greenfields, are situated in the same geological province and exhibit analogous rock types, structural setting and geophysical properties as observed at the Corvette Lithium Trend 65km to the southwest.
This is a genuine opportunity to discover a significant lithium deposit in a Tier-1 jurisdiction and we’re excited to kick off exploration with aerial reconnaissance mapping and sampling to be undertaken in the coming weeks.”
Pure Resources reports it received approval for its application for 319 claims in central Quebec, situated 35km from the La Grande-4 hydroelectric generating station that is part of Hydro-Quebec’s James Bay Project.
The company states rare earth element (REE) pegmatites occur along ‘large’ regional-scale faults in greenschist and amphibolite facies metamorphic terranes.
These are ‘typically’ hosted by mafic metavolcanics or metasedimentary rocks and are located near peraluminous granite plutons.
Patriot Battery Metals’ Corvette discovery is the nearest known lithium project, and it shares many similarities with the company’s Laforge claims.
Pure has also witnessed a significant jump in its share price on the ASX, rising 17% to $0.275 as of 9.50am AWST.
A review of publicly available geological and geophysical datasets by Pure’s geologists identified that the Laforge Greenstone Belt is prospective for pegmatite-hosted lithium deposits.
The company says lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites ‘typically’ occur in the Superior Province, and the Laforge and La Grande Greenstone Belts are situated in this province, and as a result the claims are considered prospective for LCT pegmatites.
The rock types of the Laforge Greenstone Belt are dominated by amphibolite facies, mafic to ultramafic metavolcanics and intermediate to mafic paragneiss units.
Pure states this stratigraphy is analogous to the Corvette Discovery, where pegmatite intrusions are hosted within basalt derived amphibolite rocks.
The main target corridor within the Laforge Greenstone Belt is defined by ‘high-magnetic’ signatures which is indicative of the presence of rocks rich in iron and magnesium.
The magnetic data will be a key targeting tool for identifying prospective corridors where the rheological and structural architecture are ‘favourable’ for the intrusion of pegmatite bodies.
Pure also states Quebec geological survey, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MERN), has identified multiple peraluminous granites adjacent to the company’s claims and it is hypothesised that one or more of these granites could be a potential source of LCT pegmatites.
The company has engaged Apex Geoscience to complete a 2 week helicopter assisted mapping and sampling program to further investigate the potential of the Laforge claims and aims to identify outcropping pegmatites which will be targeted in follow-up exploration programs.
The mapping and sampling program will be undertaken in early December 2022, and Pure is also considering other opportunities to expand their tenement holding in the region.
Pure Resources is a battery metal focused company focused on its portfolio of nickel and copper assets, as well as the generation of new projects.
Its projects include the Killarney, Mount Monger, Yandal and Yundamindra Projects in Western Australia.
Images: Pure Resources Ltd & iStock
