Following the completion of its first phase of exploration on its Llama Lithium Project in the prolific James Bay region in Canada, Intra Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX:IEC) has identified several highly prospective areas that it will explore further.
The project is comprised of 135 wholly owned mineral claims consolidated into one block covering approximately 69.2 square kilometres and is just 65 kilometres from the Winsome Resources Ltd (ASX:WR1) Adina Project and 120 kilometres from Patriot Battery Metals Ltd Corvette Project.
From the first stage program at Llama, multiple large scale pegmatite dykes were discovered with Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) affinities including the presence of the minerals beryl (beryllium) and columbite (niobium).
Dahrouge Geological Consulting (DGC), IEC’s geological services partner in Canada, collected 83 rock samples and mapped some 52 kilometres of ground traverses with the objective of identifying drill targets.
Samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Map of the Llama project, illustrating the location of the 83 rock samples collected, including beryl, columbite and tourmaline observations along with the traverses conducted during the initial exploration program.
“This is a terrific start to our maiden exploration campaign in Canada, identifying several highly prospective areas within the Llama Project area,” IEC managing director Benjamin Dunn said.
“Our patience has been rewarded and we thank the Dahrouge Geological Consulting team for their hard work and keen eyes, covering the area by foot. We await the results of the samples taken in the field which, along with planned LIDAR and Hyperspectral analysis, will focus the next round of fieldwork and set us up for what we believe will be a successful exploration campaign.”
Exploration in detail; results to come in December quarter
An 11-day field helicopter supported exploration program was undertaken by DGC on several prospective targets including potential pegmatite outcrops and areas anomalous in lithium (Li), rubidium (Rb), tantalum (Ta).
Several targets showed numerous kilometric-scale pegmatite dykes and LCT indicator minerals including tourmaline, beryl and columbite were identified at multiple locations.
Tourmaline pegmatite showing potential LCT affinity.
Rock samples reveal the presence of columbite, beryl, tourmaline, and muscovite, suggesting an enrichment of beryllium, niobium, and boron—known as incompatible elements—in late-stage granitic fluids.
Columbite crystal along with a tourmaline crystal within a sub-crop pegmatite.
These incompatible elements crystallise into minerals in areas parallel to the fertile source granite's boundary, serving as indicators for potential zones enriched in lithium.
The samples are now with the SGS Canada Inc. laboratory, for a comprehensive multi-element analysis, including all lithium indicator elements.
Results expected early in the December quarter.
What’s next?
Once it has received the lab results, IEC will conduct a second field exploration program to collect more samples.
The focus will be the remaining targets and refinement of pegmatite dykes’ extensions, to give IEC a deeper insight into their geochemical signatures.
The company is evaluating the earliest possible time to undertake the work.
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