Frontier Lithium has released initial results from four drill holes completed during its ongoing Phase XII exploration program at the Spark pegmatite, part of the PAK Lithium Project. The program, initiated in May 2022, aims to convert inferred resources to the indicated category for open-pit mining planning. Spark is one of two premium spodumene-bearing lithium deposits on the project, with Phase XII involving two rigs that have drilled 7,000 meters across 22 holes to date.
Key Drill Results
• DDH PL-057-22: Intersected a 10-meter zone grading 2.54% Cs₂O (interpreted as pollucite) within a high-grade lithium interval averaging 3.14% Li₂O from 149.5–159.5 meters. A 15-meter tantalum-rubidium zone below this (157.5–172.5m) returned 1,335 ppm Ta₂O₅ and 0.9% Rb₂O, remaining open at depth. The hole collared in pegmatite averaged 1.76% Li₂O over 110.7 meters.
• DDH PL-058-22: Encountered 239.4 meters of pegmatite (58.1–297.4m) grading 1.3% Li₂O, including multiple 16–18-meter intervals exceeding 2% Li₂O.
• DDH PL-063-22: Collared in pegmatite, averaging 1.72% Li₂O over 144 meters, with a 68.5-meter section at 1.58% Li₂O at the hole’s terminus (248.5m).
• DDH PL-064-22: Intersected 132.9 meters of pegmatite (114.1–247.0m) grading 1.33% Li₂O, including elevated tin (440 ppm SnO₂) and rubidium (0.51% Rb₂O) from 114–121m, and tantalum (959 ppm Ta₂O₅) and niobium (602 ppm Nb₂O₅) from 170–180m.
Geological Insights
Garth Drever, Vice President of Exploration, highlighted the discovery of pollucite in DDH PL-057-22 as evidence of advanced pegmatite fractionation, comparable to the prolific Tanco pegmatite in Manitoba. This mineralogical evolution suggests potential for additional by-products beyond lithium and tantalum. Further drilling will investigate northern and western extensions of this high-grade zone.
The initial objective for the Phase XII drill program was to focus on converting the Inferred resource lithium bearing material within the central portion of the Spark deposit at depth. DDH’s PL-57, 58, 63 and 64 were all terminated in pegmatite due to PFS time constraints requiring quick upgrading of some of the existing inferred resource. The holes will be extended later in the program. With this objective in mind, most May and June drill holes are steeply dipping (>-65) and designed to infill the Inferred area to a vertical depth of around 300-320m. These holes will be included in the upgraded Measured-Indicated Resource for Spark that will become part of the Prefeasibility Study (PFS) targeted for completion by the end of 2022.
Figure 1 is a location map showing the project area including Frontier’s land tenure and location of the three lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites and includes a plan map of the Spark pegmatite with drill hole traces highlighting the Phase XII drilling reported in this release.
Figure 1 Compilation Map showing the project area and a plan map of the Spark Deposit
Currently Frontier has two drill rigs completing in-fill and delineation drilling defining the eastern part of the Spark deposit and defining the western extensions of the deposit. Several of the initial Phase XII holes that were terminated in mineralization will be extended. At the time of this press release Frontier had completed over 7,000m in 22 holes. Laboratory analysis were only complete for the four holes reported.
Table 1 details the drill holes with mineralized intersections while Table 2 summarizes all the Phase XII drill holes completed as of June 10th, 2022.
Table 1: Details of Mineralized Intersections
Table 2: Summary of Phase XII Drill Program (May to June10, 2022)
(Source: Press Releases – https://mailchi.mp/frontierlithium/sparkxii-parta)
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