Grid Metals posts first assays from Phase 2 drilling at Falcon West Project, Manitoba
Grid Metals Corp. [TSXV: GRDM; OTCQB: MSMGF] reported significant cesium, lithium and tantalum values from drilling at its 100%-owned Falcon West property, Manitoba. The exploration target is the Lucy South pegmatite – a globally rare example of a highly fractionated LCT pegmatite – with cesium hosted in the mineral pollucite.
The strategic nature of cesium is evidenced by its designation as a critical metal in both the US and Canada. At the current time, the potential sources of pollucite globally are considered extremely limited.
Drilling Highlights: Notable cesium intercepts from the first 11 holes of the Phase 2 program include 3.8 metres with 12.9% Cs2O, including 1.6 metres with 26.5% Cs2O (LU26-03; from 19.6 metres); 3.3 metres with 4.32% Cs2O, including 1.0 metre with 13.8% Cs2O (LU26-11; from 27.8 metres).
Drilling also intersected the spodumene-rich parts of the core zone of the Lucy South pegmatite with peak grades approaching the theoretical maximum lithium oxide content of pure spodumene (e.g., 1.2m with 6.16% Li2O in hole LU26-09, from 39.2 metres).
Significant tantalum (e.g., 0.9m with 1.48% Ta2O5 in hole LU26-05, from 39.2 metres) and rubidium (e.g. 1.2m with 1.53% Rb2O in LU26-10, from 46.0 metres) were also intersected, further highlighting the extremely fractionated nature of the Lucy South pegmatite.
The continuation of a highly fractionated pegmatite environment was confirmed with step-out hole LU26-10,drilled 70 metres to the east of the currently defined limits of the Lucy South Cs-Li-Ta-rich core zone. This drill hole yielded percent level cesium and rubidium grades.
The Phase 2 drill program was completed last month with 67 holes drilled for a total of 3,075 metres. This followed the successful Phase 1 drill program that was completed late last year (67 holes, 3,035 metres). Assays for the remaining 56 holes are pending.
Results for the first 11 holes from the Phase 2 program are reported herein. These holes extended the resource drilling grid by ~25 metres to the northeast. Four of the 11 drill holes drilled intercepted cesium mineralization and nine intercepted lithium mineralization.
The exploration target is the approximate 5m wide core zone of the Lucy South pegmatite which hosts a mineralized package of cesium (pollucite), lithium (spodumene) and tantalum (tantalite) in varying concentrations.
In the 120m x 60m area where drilling is concentrated at the Lucy South pegmatite, it is predominantly flat-lying. The pollucite mineralization found is mostly situated no deeper than 30m from surface.
LU2026-10 which was drilled 70m to the east intercepted a highly fractionated LCT pegmatite at approximately 40 metres vertical depth and bodes well for future exploration drilling in the area.
All 134 drill holes have targeted the Lucy South pegmatite in the 2025/2026 programs (Phase 1 and Phase 2). Grid expects to commence work on an initial cesium resource estimate for Lucy South immediately following receipt of all assays from the Phase 2 program (56 holes are pending).
Lucy South Pegmatite and Cesium: The company is undertaking the current drilling at Lucy South in light of the scarcity of global supply of cesium feedstock associated with the mineral pollucite – which is the preferred feedstock for processing into cesium chemicals. LCT pegmatites featuring percentage level grades of cesium are considered geologically rare. Global cesium production has historically occurred from only three LCT pegmatite bodies.
The minimum strike length of the pollucite-bearing core zone of the Lucy South pegmatite is ~120 metres and its average width ranges from several metres to ~60 metres. The known pollucite mineralization remains partially open along and across strike.
The pollucite mineralization is interpreted to have formed during the last stages of crystallization of the host Lucy South pegmatite, post-dating the spodumene-rich mineralization and forming discrete pockets of Cs-rich pegmatite within the core zone.
Exploration potential in the project area remains high with a number of occurrences of spodumene and pollucite mineralization noted in the immediate project area.
Cesium is used in a number of important energy and security related applications with the current global production of cesium products largely controlled by a Chinese company. As such, the potential for defining a cesium resource in Manitoba, Canada presents a compelling opportunity for Grid.
Cesium is defined as a critical metal by both Canada and the U.S. It has growing uses in high technology and important industrial applications. There is currently believed to be a significant shortage of cesium feedstock globally.
Grid Metals provides a focused cesium opportunity at its 100%-owned Falcon West cesium project with upside optionality at its other mineral projects in southeastern Manitoba.
The Falcon West Property (Li-Cs) is located 110 km east of Winnipeg along the Trans-Canada highway and contains highly anomalous cesium and lithium values in LCT pegmatite including the Lucy South pegmatite dyke, the focus of Grid’s current exploration efforts.
The Makwa Property (Ni-Cu-PGM-Co), which is subject to an option and joint venture agreement with Teck Resources Limited [TSX: TECK.A, TECK.B; NYSE: TECK] which can earn up to a 70% interest in Makwa by incurring a total of CAD$17.3 million, comprising project expenditures (CAD$15.7 million) and cash payments or equity participation (CAD$1.6 million) with Grid. Makwa is located on the south arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt.
The Mayville Property (Cu-Ni) is located on the north arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt. The property is owned subject to a minority interest. The project contains a NI 43-101 compliant open pit resource of 32 million tonnes grading 0.61% CuEq.
The Donner Property (Li-Cs) is adjacent to the Mayville Property, and Grid owns 75% of the project. The project contains a NI 43-101 compliant resource of 6.8 million tonnes grading 1.39% Li2O.
All of the company’s southeastern Manitoba projects are located on the ancestral lands of the Sagkeeng First Nation with whom the company maintains an exploration agreement.