Critical Elements posts positive drill results at Rose West discovery, Québec
Critical Elements Lithium Corp. [TSXV: CRE; OTCQX: CRECF; FSE: F12] provided an update on the drilling program, geological interpretation and positive assay results on its Summer 2026 10,000 metres of systematic drilling around the 100% owned Rose West Discovery, located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec.
Highlights: The Summer 2026 drill program continues to deliver positive results demonstrating the successful expansion of the Rose West mineralized footprint by adding an additional 350 x 300 metre block expanding the mineralization footprint in the North Extension Area, and an additional 200 x 300 metre block in the West Target Zone. The mineralization footprint of Rose West has now been expanded over ten-fold since discovery in the winter of 2024.
Drilling along Lines C and D suggests the continuity of Pegmatite 6 below the Main Target Area, where mineralization has been intersected along a west-dipping zone, over thicknesses ranging from 15 to 37.9 metres.
Combined, these new results and observations are providing key insights on the fine scale geometry of the zones, and the 3D model has been fully revised and updated and is being incorporated into planning for future drill program.
All assay results have been received for ten additional holes, covering the North Extension Area.
Since completion of hole RW-26-68, an additional 26 holes were also drilled and are being prepared for assaying.
The Summer 2026 drill program targets the expansion of the mineralized footprint to a potential of approximately 1,250 x 2,000 metres and aims to expand the lateral continuity of the seven mineralized pegmatite bodies identified within the system. Previously reported drilling has covered the immediate eastern extension of the Main Target, and since then the program has completed the exploration drilling along the northern and western boundaries of the defined mineralized zones. Current drilling is focusing on infilling gaps in the core of the system in support of a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).
Assay results were received for holes RW-26-59 to RW-26-68 inclusive, and returned some significant lithium and tantalum composite assays, including 0.58% Li2O and 226 ppm Ta2O5 over 14.05 metres, through Pegmatite 3B, in hole RW-26-59; 1.35% Li2O and 160 ppm Ta2O5 over 16.20 metres (including 1.85% Li2O and 93 ppm Ta2O5 over 9.25 m), through Pegmatite 3B, in hole RW-26-60; 0.96% Li2O and 163 ppm Ta2O5 over 5.15 metres, through Pegmatite 3B, in hole RW-26-61; 0.93% Li2O and 162 ppm Ta2O5 over 6.30 metres (including 3.39% Li2O and 109 ppm Ta2O5 over 1.65 m), through Pegmatite 3B, in hole RW-26-62; 0.15% Li2O and 166 ppm Ta2O5 over 4.25 metres, through Pegmatite 3B, in hole RW-26-63; 1.32% Li2O and 280 ppm Ta2O5 over 3.20 metres, through Pegmatite 3B, in hole RW-26-64. The true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.
Located approximately 10 km to the west of the 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 metre footprint area in the winter of 2024, now covering an overall footprint of 1,250 m x 1,500 m, a more than ten-fold increase in surface expression. The lithium-rich pegmatites typically range from 10 to 40 metres in thickness and together display a sub-horizontal stacked geometry.
Recent drilling has identified three new spodumene-bearing pegmatitic bodies within the target area. The Summer 2026 drill program is designed to further expand this mineralized footprint, and to better define the geometry and extent of the three new mineralized pegmatites intersected during the Winter 2026 Campaign.
The Summer 2026 drill program is designed to reach three specific goals: expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint; infill drilling along Line C and D, to confirm grade and thickness continuity of the intersected pegmatites and follow up on both newly discovered mineralized pegmatites (Pegmatites 6 and 7) below the current extent of mineralization.
The drilling program is expected to terminate at the end of November 2026.. Drilling is now covering the core mineralized area with a systematic 100 metre grid approach, while a fence of holes at 200 metre spacing has closed off the known mineralized zones in the northern and western areas.
However, both the East Target Zone, where Pegmatite 7 was intersected at a depth of 330 m in hole RW-26-50, as well as the South Area, where Pegmatite 5 and 3 were intersected in holes RW-26-39 to RW-26-41, remain open for exploration.
The assay results reported in this release are from the drill holes meant to cover the North Extension Area, where an offset equivalent of either Pegmatite 3 or 5 had previously been reported in holes RW-26-57 and RW-26-58. The new drilling now confirms the presence of such offset equivalent of the main Pegmatite 3. This new zone, Pegmatite 3B, covers a 300 x 300 m area, while its thickness appears to gradually decrease towards the north.
As part of our systematic drilling approach, the NW Area as well as the West Extension area were also tested during this drilling phase. No significant mineralized zones were intersected apart from holes RW-26-74 and RW-26-75, where relatively thin but potentially mineralized spodumene-bearing pegmatites were intersected.
A last group of holes are planned to be completed by the end of the current drilling campaign. These holes are designed to close off the loop and covering with a similar gridded approach the area immediately East of the Main Target Area, while providing key insights on the potential continuity of mineralization intersected during the Winter in holes RW-26-38 and RW-26-43 to the south, and RW-26-47 and RW-26-48 to the north.
The intersection of the two trends appears to be responsible for a significant increase in the thickness of the zones intersected. Exceptional examples of such phenomena are observed in holes RW-26-89 and RW-26-90, where the thickness is 28.10 m and 33.30 m respectively.
The pegmatites are generally shallowly dipping towards the East, and display a stacked distribution in the vertical dimension. All together, these pegmatites are believed to form an interconnected network of dykes, which appears to be characterized by preferential orientations forming a conjugated set of fractures.
“Recent drilling has allowed a better understanding of the geometry of the different structural elements encountered in the system and major improvements in the 3D modeling have been made accordingly. With the interpretation of Pegmatite 3B and Pegmatite 6 extension, significant new volume of spodumene-rich mineralization is being added yet again to the system. These results are very encouraging and are in line with our expectations. With two active drill rigs, we look forward to drilling as much as possible prior to the end of the drill season. More specifically, our focus is to finish off drilling on Line D, within the Main Target Area, and then moving the drill towards the East Target Zone,” commented Kenneth Williamson, Director of Exploration.
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 company’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.
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