Recharge Metals is looking to hit the ground running in coming months to follow up a number of new targets generated at its Express lithium project in the high-profile James Bay Region in Quebec, Canada.
The company is now planning an important program of ground exploration activities at Express following the successful completion of analysis undertaken with key consultants of spectral data acquired over the 73.5 square kilometre Express project.
Managing director Felicity Repacholi-Muir says spectral data has been found to be particularly useful tool in the hunt for lithium bearing pegmatites in the James Bay Region.
Recharge and Perth-headquartered geophysical survey design and processing specialist Terra Resources have utilised data collected by satellite measurements and other technology to identify and refine a number of potential pegmatite outcrops.
Using Sentinel and ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflectance Radar), the spectral study has identified opportunities that were similar in style to those seen in neighbouring James Bay lithium projects.
Recharge is currently assessing additional spectral data and other datasets created from the acquisition and interpretation of such technologies as high resolution aerial imagery, LiDAR, and magnetic data.
Summer field program
Once collated, the information will help form the basis for planning for Recharge’s upcoming northern summer field program at Express, which is expected to kick-off within the new few months.
The campaign will include on-the-ground geological mapping and sampling of a number of the priority areas identified by the recent desktop work. The main aim will be to confirm the presence and geochemistry of the lithologies present.
This is likely to be followed up by a diamond drilling program on priority lithium targets.
The Recharge MD says the company is well advanced in its preparations for the upcoming field season including the securing of access to helicopter support.
“Given the substantial number of outcropping pegmatites in and around the Express Lithium Project the presence of a significant number of spectral targets does not surprise us,” Ms Repacholi-Muir said.
“More importantly we are collecting valuable data to carefully plan and prioritise our field program, ensuring systematic sampling of all potential outcrops within the allotted timeframe.”
Australians driving Quebec’s lithium “gold rush”
Recharge is one of a number of ASX and TSX-listed Australian juniors that have identified Canada, and the James Bay Region in particular, as a global hot spot for the hunt for highly sought after lithium deposits.
Over the past few years, Australian explorers of all shapes and sizes have been grabbing ground in areas that are considered prospective for lithium bearing pegmatites.
Driven by the global lithium ion battery “boom” and the dramatic growth in the electric vehicle market, Australian companies are announcing James Bay property acquisitions and exploration successes on an almost daily basis.
The Quebec critical minerals market opportunity is also being driven by the billions of dollars being offered by the Canadian and USA governments as they look to source materials for their own domestic clean energy future.
While Canada has been identified as having potentially large lithium reserves, there is no current significant lithium production in place.
The Australian explorers are bringing with them significant experience gained in their home country, the world’s leading lithium producer.
