Patriot Battery Metals drills 1.65% Li2O over 159.7 metres at Corvette, Quebec
Patriot Battery Metals Inc. [PMET-TSXV; PMETF-OTC; R9GA-FSE] reported core assay results for an additional six drill holes (CV22-037, CV22-038, CV22-039, CV22-042, CV22-043 and CV22-044) completed as part of the summer phase of the 2022 drill campaign at its wholly owned Corvette property in the James Bay region of northern Quebec. The target drill area – at the CV lithium trend – is located approximately 13.5 km south of the regional and all-weather Trans-Taiga Road and power line infrastructure.
The best lithium intercept returned to date in drilling at Corvette, located at the east end of the current drill area and returned 1.65% Li2O (lithium oxide) and 193 parts per million Ta2O5 (tantalum pentoxide) over 159.7 metres (from 131.8 m downhole), including 4.12% Li2O and 162 ppm Ta2O5 over 9.0 metres (CV22-042).
Hole CV22-044 returned 2.13% Li2O and 163 ppm Ta2O5 over 86.2 metres (from 244.4 m downhole), including 3.07% Li2O and 265 ppm Ta2O5 over 18.0 metres.
Continued strong lithium grades over wide intervals returned over western portion of drill area, between the CV5 and CV6 spodumene pegmatite outcrops, including 1.42% Li2O and 106 ppm Ta2O5 over 59.3 metres (from 214.0 m downhole), including 2.06% Li2O and 141 ppm Ta2O5 over 7.2 metres (CV22-038).
Hole CV22-043 returned 1.68% Li2O and 91 ppm Ta2O5over 22.7 metres (from 319.4 m downhole), including 3.13% Li2O and 75 ppm Ta2O5 over 7.0 metres.
Drill program update: Drill holes CV22-063 and CV22-066, with 39.9 metres and 113.4 metres core length intercepts of spodumene-bearing pegmatite, respectively, have extended the strike length of the principal lithium pegmatite to at least 2,000 metres, as tested by drilling, spanning laterally from drill hole CF21-004 through CV22-063/CV22-066.
As of August 24, 2022, a total of 15,497 m over 53 holes have now been completed over the 2022 drill campaign – 4,345 metres over 20 holes in the winter program and 11,152 m over 33 holes in the summer program with 19 drill holes currently en route to or in process at the analytical lab.
The company has provided an update on some of the strongest lithium-mineralized intervals of the drill campaign to date at Corvette, including the strongest based on a lithium grade times width metric – CV22-042. This drill hole returned a continuous pegmatite interval (core length) of 159.7 metres grading 1.65% Li2O, including 9.0 metres of 4.12% Li2O, and was completed as follow-up along strike eastwardly of the 2.22% Li2O over 70.1 metres intercept in drill hole CV22-017.
Additionally, drill hole CV22-044 was completed as a step-back to CV22-017 to test the high-grade zone at depth and returned 86.2 metres grading 2.13% Li2O, including 18.0 metres of 3.07% Li2O. Collectively, both drill holes (CV22-042 and CV22-044) have extended the high-grade lithium zone – first intersected in CV22-017 – along strike and to depth, respectively.
Ken Brinsden, non-executive chairman and director, commented: “The scope of lithium mineralization at Corvette is incredible, with further strong intercepts from the summer program continuing to demonstrate the scale and grade of the mineralized envelope. Remaining open to the east, west and to depth, in addition to the numerous other lithium pegmatite targets on the property, the Corvette project remains highly prospective beyond what we have found to date. Corvette is one of the world’s great lithium raw materials discoveries with full credit to the team as we continue to realize its potential.”
The summer phase of the 2022 drill campaign began in early June with two diamond drill rigs operating along the CV5-1 pegmatite corridor. A barge and third drill rig began operating at the site in August and is targeting the mineralized pegmatite(s) from the overlying shallow lake. In early September, one of the drill rigs is planned to move to the recently discovered CV13 pegmatite cluster, located approximately 4.3 km on strike to the southwest of the current drill area, for initial drill testing of that local trend, which extends for more than two km.
The company’s flagship asset is the Corvette property, located proximal to the Trans-Taiga Road and powerline infrastructural corridor.