Critical Elements launches 10,000-metre drill program at Rose West Project, Quebec
Critical Elements Lithium Corp. [TSXV: CRE OTCQX: CRECF; FSE: F12] reported details of its Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program, including 10,000 metres of systematic drilling around the 100%-owned Rose West Discovery, located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec. Rose West is a near surface, sub-horizontal 10-40 metre thick lithium-rich pegmatite intercepted by drilling over a 450 m x 370 m footprint area in the winter of 2024.
This drilling program is designed with the objective to eventually produce a resource estimate for Rose West, should the west zone prove to be continuous. Rose West is situated within 10 km of the highly advanced Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project.
Several of the 2024 drillhole results returned wide high grade lithium assays, as highlighted: 1.39% Li2O and 157 ppm Ta2O5 over 35.30 metres, including 2.33% Li2O and 152 ppm Ta2O5 over 9.00 metres in hole RD-24-25A; 1.29% Li2O and 121 ppm Ta2O5 over 31.50 m, including 1.69% Li2O and 127 ppm Ta2O5 over 13.50 m in hole RD-24-24; 1.22% Li2O and 250 ppm Ta2O5 over 20.50 m, including 1.60% Li2O and 181 ppm Ta2O5 over 15.00 m in hole RD-24-17; 1.31% Li2O and 235 ppm Ta2O5 over 40.40 m, including 1.64% Li2O and 219 ppm Ta2O5 over 22.50 m in hole RD-24-20; 2.22% Li2O and 95 ppm Ta2O5 over 20.30 m, including 2.78% Li2O and 92 ppm Ta2O5 over 10.50 m in hole RD-24-23A; 1.30% Li2O and 142 ppm Ta2O5 over 31.60 m, including 1.59% Li2O and 130 ppm Ta2O5 over 25.50 m in hole RD-24-22; 1.43% Li2O and 178 ppm Ta2O5 over 24.95 m, including 1.91% Li2O and 145 ppm Ta2O5 over 13.50 m in hole RD-24-16A. The true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.
Rose West is situated within the Rose and Rose South property blocks. The 2024 winter drill campaign successfully completed 3,670 meters of drilling in 31 holes on the spodumene-bearing pegmatite. Drilling results to date have demonstrated the continuity of a mineralized pegmatite body, which thus far extends over 450 m strike, 370 m down dip and to a vertical depth of 140 m. In the west, the body is comprised of multiple near surface mineralized pegmatites that range up to an apparent thickness of 12.40 metres individually. These bodies appear to coalesce into a more substantial spodumene-bearing pegmatite in the east with an apparent width of up to 40.40 metres. The main pegmatite body appears to be sitting in between two shallow dipping aplite dykes. This volume is the primary target of the current drilling program.
The Winter 2026 drill program is designed to reach three specific goals: expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint; test the northeastern area for continuity; and verify the potential of discovering additional lithium-bearing pegmatites below the currently defined area.
Two drill rigs are being deployed to optimize the duration of the program. The drilling strategy is straightforward: apply a 100-mtere grid approach to grow the known mineralized volume from its current boundary outward. The program targets expansion of the Main Zone to a potential footprint of approximately 950 m x 1200 m, and the addition of an East Target Zone of approximately 750 m x 600 m.
Drilling depth will depend on the location of the hole but is expected to average 175 metres. End-of-hole depth will be established 10 mteres below the bottom contact of the projected target volume, but nine specific drillholes will be extended to a depth of about 300 metres to verify the presence of any deeper potential.
Recent geological interpretation has identified a northwest-trending, moderately dipping (45-60° northeast) structural corridor, which appears to be cutting through the host tonalitic country rocks. While the timing of such deformation likely pre-dates the pegmatitic event, observations suggest that the geometry of the main pegmatites is locally influenced by the structural fabric, acting as weakness planes, developed within the deformation corridor. As a result, the main pegmatite body appears to “drop deeper” by apparent offset of roughly 100 m on the east side of the deformation corridor.
“Given good lateral continuity of the zone, this drilling program has the potential to significantly increase the footprint of the Rose West Discovery. Should mineralized intercepts continue to measure between 10 to 40 m and grades remain consistent with those reported in 2024, Rose West could have a material impact on the total Rose Project resource and, consequently, a potential economic impact for Critical Element’s shareholders”, commented Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, CEO.
Critical Elements aspires to become a large, responsible supplier of lithium to the flourishing electric vehicle and energy storage system industries. To this end, Critical Elements is advancing the wholly-owned, high-purity Rose Lithium-Tantalum project in Québec, the corporation’s first lithium project to be advanced within a land portfolio of over 1,016 km2.
On August 29, 2023, the company announced results of a new Feasibility Study on Rose for the production of spodumene concentrate. The after-tax internal rate of return for the Project is estimated at 65.7%, with an estimated after-tax net present value of US$2.2B at an 8% discount rate. In the corporation’s view, Québec is strategically well-positioned for US and EU markets and boasts good infrastructure including a low-cost, low-carbon power grid featuring 94% hydroelectricity.
The project has received approval from the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the Joint Assessment Committee, comprised of representatives from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government, received the Certificate of Authorization under the Environment Quality Act from the Québec Minister of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, and the project mining lease from the Québec Minister of Natural Resources and Forests under the Québec Mining Act.
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