Critical Elements posts assays from Rose West 10,000-metre drill program, Quebec
Critical Elements Lithium Corp. [TSXV: CRE; OTCQX: CRECF; FSE: F12] reported assay results and an update on its Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program, at the 100%-owned Rose West discovery in Eeyou Istchee, Québec.
Highlights: The Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program has successfully expanded the Rose West mineralized footprint from 450 m x 370 m to 1,250 m x 800 m, demonstrating thicknesses that typically range from 10 to 40 metres, and excellent lateral continuity.
Three new spodumene-bearing pegmatitic bodies have been identified within the target area in recent drilling. Bodies are stacked and generally flat lying.
The geological model is proving to be highly effective and productive. An additional 19 new holes have been completed with assays pending from six holes.
Assay results were received for holes RW-26-31 to 33, and RW-26-46 to 50, and returned some significant lithium and tantalum composite assays, as highlighted: 1.89% Li2O and 207 ppm Ta2O5 over 13.50 metres through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-32; 1.29% Li2O and 169 ppm Ta2O5 over 17.75 metres (including 2.13% Li2O and 105 ppm Ta2O5 over 9.00 m), through Pegmatite 3 in hole RW-26-33; 0.93% Li2O and 291 ppm Ta2O5 over 10.45 metres (including 2.75% Li2O and 553 ppm Ta2O5 over 3.00 m), through Pegmatite 5 (new), in hole RW-26-46; 2.18% Li2O and 68 ppm Ta2O5 over 12.60 meters (including 3.11% Li2O and 48 ppm Ta2O5 over 7.40 m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-46; 1.72% Li2O and 117 ppm Ta2O5 over 10.30 metres (including 2.61% Li2O and 117 ppm Ta2O5 over 6.35 m), through Pegmatite 5 (new), in hole RW-26-47; 1.91% Li2O and 74 ppm Ta2O5 over 11.75 metres, through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-47 and 1.13% Li2O and 109 ppm Ta2O5 over 12.90 metres, through Pegmatite 7 (new), in hole RW-26-50. True thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.
Rose West is situated within 10 km of the advanced Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project. Rose West is a near surface lithium-rich pegmatite bearing zone, initially intercepted by drilling over a 450 m x 370 m footprint area in the winter of 2024, now covering an overall footprint of 1,250 m x 800 m.
The lithium-rich pegmatites typically range from 10 to 40 metres in thickness and display a sub-horizontal geometry. Recent drilling has identified three new spodumene-bearing pegmatitic bodies within the target area; a significant addition to the working model as it could potentially lead to rapid growth of the mineral inventory within the footprint of the project.
To date, the Winter 2026 drill program has covered most of the Line A, Line E and Line K planned holes. As previously mentioned, holes were planned to reach three specific goals: expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint (RW-26-29 to 34, RW-26-45 & 46); test the area for continuity to the northeast (RW-26-47 to 50), to the southeast (RW-26-40 to 44) and verify the potential of discovering additional lithium-bearing pegmatites below the currently defined area.
Holes RW-26-31 to RW-26-33 were drilled along Line K, at the northern boundary of the target area; Assay results are still pending for hole RW-26-34, but high grade Li2O is now confirmed in holes 32 and 33. This group of holes by itself extends the northern boundary of the main Pegmatite 3 footprint area by some 500 x 100 metres yet showing an average thickness of 15 metres.
Holes RW-26-45 to RW-26-50 were drilled along Line E, covering the eastern target area. Hole RW-26-46 and 47 are likely the best hole drilled to date at Rose West during the winter 2026 program; revealing the presence of the newly interpreted Pegmatite 5 across just over 10 metres, Pegmatite 3 over 12 metres and Pegmatite 2 over an average of 10 metres. Hole RW-26-49 marks the eastern limit of both Pegmatites 2 and 3. Altogether, these holes extend the mineralized area by about 800 x 200 metres to the east.
RW-26-50 was drilled deep and intersected the new Pegmatite 7 body at a depth of about 325 metres. Hole 50 is currently the only hole defining Pegmatite 7, so far with Li2O grade of 1.13% over almost 13 metres, leaving this new zone open in all directions. An extension of hole RW-26-49 is planned to test the continuity of this new pegmatite towards the west, below the currently defined mineralized area.
Covering an area of 500 m x 600 m, drilling to the south (RW-26-38 to RW-26-44) also intersected two significant pegmatites interpreted to be Pegmatite 5 (new) and Pegmatite 3; they show a thickness still in the range of 10-15 metres. Assay results for these holes are not yet available but are anticipated to reflect the concentration of spodumene observed in the core.
The Winter 2026 drill campaign ended April 3 and assay results for about two-thirds of the samples sent to the laboratory are now available and presented in the current press release. The campaign has already proven to be successful by demonstrating the lateral continuity of the mineralization, and interpretation of the mineralized model has been completed to the extent of the available data. The sub-horizontal pegmatites dykes are believed to be in an extensional position and distributed in a “en echelon” pattern within a much wider regional structural framework.
Kenneth Williamson, Director of Exploration, commented: “While we knew from our current interpretation that the pegmatites were very continuous spatially, we are now also starting to observe very good continuity in grade. Results presented in today’s press release are significant as they confirm the high-grade nature of the extensions of the pegmatites initially interpreted from the core zone data. Not only our working model has proven successful in predicting where mineralized volume could be added, rocks are collaborating by given us good continuity in lithium and tantalum grades over important thicknesses… makes me think we are on the right track.”
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, 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.