Georgia Lake: Advanced Stage Exploration Project
- Rock Tech has 100% ownership of 12,681 hectares in the Thunder Bay Mining District of northwest Ontario (Canada).
- An initial NI43-101 indicated resource estimate of 2.36 million tonnes at 1.17% Li2O and an inferred resource estimate of 4.36 million tonnes at 1.07% Li2O*
- The key attributes of the original claim blocks include:
- An historical resource estimate of 9.8 million tons with a weighted average grade of 1.18% Li2O, based on 33,000 metres of drilling completed by past operators**.
- The Nama Creek claim block, previously owned by Nama Creek Mines Inc., was “production-ready” in the late 1950s.
- A four compartment mine shaft with a depth of 153 metres was built by Nama Creek Mines Inc.
- Excellent infrastructure is in place as the property is accessible via paved Provincial highway and gravel roads right up to its project area; power and water are readily available; skilled labour force in place; town of Beardmore, providing for all services, is 20 kilometres away; deep lake port is 150 kilometres to the southwest in Thunder Bay/Port Arthur.
- Drill programs completed in 2010-Q1 and 2011-Q2 show confirmation of historic drilling results and show indications for rare metals such as rubidium, cesium, niobium and beryllium.
- Metallurgical test results include:
- Concentration of high grade spodumene (6.2%) from high and low grade ore.
- Recovery rate of 75.5% utilizing heavy liquid separation.
- Recovery rate of 81.1% utilizing floatation.
- Hydrometallurgical test results include:
- Production of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with grades/purity of 99.96% without any process optimization.
- Production of Li2CO3 with grades/purity of 99.98% with bicarbonate scrubbing.
- Rock Tech’s objectives for the Georgia Lake Project for 2012 are:
- To update the initial NI43-101 resource estimate at the Nama Creek claim block.
- To confirm the remaining historical resource estimate to NI43-101 standards through further exploration, and using the historical drilling and trenching data. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the remaining historical estimate being upgraded to a current mineral resource.
- To conduct a Preliminary Economic Assessment and/or a Pre-Feasibility Study.
* NI43-101 resource estimate report is available on SEDAR and on this website.
** The source of all historical resource estimates are taken from the Ontario Department of Mines Geological Report No. 31 titled, “Geology and Lithium Deposits of Georgia Lake Area”, by E.G. Pye, (1965), and from a report titled, “Report on the Geology of the MNW Property”, by B. Zayachkivsky (1986). The historical resource estimates included in the reports are based on assessment reports filed by previous operators and other available sources. Over 200 drill holes with approximately 33,000 meters of diamond drilling were completed on the property by previous operators in the late 1950s. Based on the results of recent confirmatory exploration work on the property, the Company believes that the historic estimate is relevant to an appraisal of the merits of the property and forms a reliable basis upon which to develop future exploration programs. The original historical estimate for the property was 9.8 million tons at 1.18% Li2O. To date, the Company has confirmed 5.4 million tons, with a weighted average grade of 1.04% Li2O, of the original historical resource estimate by estimating the above current indicated and inferred resource. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the remaining historical estimate as current mineral resources. The Company is not treating the remaining historical estimate as a current mineral resource or reserve. The remaining historical estimate should not be relied on. The Company intends to verify the remainder of the historical estimate by conducting further exploration, and using the historical drilling and trenching data, though it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the remaining historical estimate being upgraded to a current mineral resource.
** NI43-101 resource estimate report is available on SEDAR and on this website.
Property Description
The spodumene-bearing pegmatites of the Georgia Lake area, located some 145 kilometers northeast of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario, were discovered in 1955. Subsequent to the discovery, the area was subjected to a staking rush and significant exploration work by various operators until 1958.
The principal means of access to the area is Ontario Provincial Highway No. 11. From the Provincial Highway, an extensive network of gravel and tertiary bush roads provide access to all of the claim groups.
Regional Geology
Geologically, the area is underlain by metasediments and metavolcanics of Archean age, trending east-northeast to west-southwest, in steeply dipping beds along the south flank of a regional syncline. These metasediments were invaded by large masses of Algoman granitic rocks and by numerous sills and dykes of genetically related porphyry, pegmatite and aplite.
These Archean metasediments are overlain by a thin cover of Sibley sediments which were subsequently intruded by diabase dykes and sills of Proterozoic age.
The Georgia Lake pegmatites contain lithium- and rare metals-bearing spodumene at many places in the area. In addition to spodumene, historical work also identified beryl, columbite, molybdnite, amblygonite, apatite, and bityite, enhancing the lithium and rare metals potential of the area.
Work Progress (from most recent)
Phase 2 of Exploration Program (October 2011 to date)
- Completed a drill program, consisting of 4,608 metres of step-out diamond core drilling and over 200 metres of trenching and channel sampling at the Nama Creek claim block.
- The objective of Phase 2 is to update the NI43-101 resource estimate released in October 2011.
- Assay results from drill and channel samples have been released.
- An updated NI43-101 resource estimate including the results of recent exploration work will be disclosed as soon as it is completed by Caracle Creek International Consulting.
- For additional exploration results, please refer to the news releases disseminated by the Company on February 8 and January 18, 2012.
Initial NI43-101 Resource Estimate
- The Company completed an initial NI43-101 resource estimate* in October of 2011. This initial resource estimate included an indicated resource estimate of 2.36 million tonnes at 1.17% Li2O and an inferred resource estimate of 4.36 million tonnes at 1.07% Li2O. This initial resource estimate was based on 7,682 metres of drilling and over 200 metres of trenching and channel sampling completed at the Nama Creek and Conway claim blocks.
- For additional details, please refer to Rock Tech News Release dated October 26, 2011
- * NI43-101 resource estimate report is available on SEDAR and on this website
Metallurgical and Hydrometallurgical Results (April 2011 to September 2011)
- Metallurgical test results include:
- Concentration of high grade spodumene (6.2%) from high and low grade mineralized material.
- Recovery rate of 75.5% utilizing heavy liquid separation.
- Recovery rate of 81.1% utilizing floatation.
- Hydrometallurgical test results include:
- Production of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) with grades/purity of 99.96% without any process optimization.
- Production of Li2CO3 with grades/purity of 99.98% with bicarbonate scrubbing.
- Please refer to Rock Tech News Release dated September 21, 2011
- Please refer to Rock Tech News Release dated June 27, 2011
- Please click here to see Key Findings from Metallurgical and Hydrometallurgical Results
Memorandum of Understanding with First Nations
- After several months of consultation, Rock Tech secured a joint memorandum of understanding with three First Nations: Bingwi Neyasshi Anishinaabek (“BNA”), Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (“BZA”), and Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek (“AZA”) First Nations.
- The MOU outlines the framework upon which the Georgia Lake project, which lies in the First Nations’ traditional territories, will be developed, ensuring that development is conducted in a manner that provides mutual benefits to all parties. The MOU establishes the foundation upon which a future Impacts and Benefits Agreement will be developed.
- The MOU provides for greater certainty, definition of benefits to the parties and mitigates any adverse impacts of project development.
- Please refer to Rock Tech News Release dated July 14, 2011
Phase 1 of Exploration Program (December 2010 to April 2011)
- Phase 1 commenced during 2010-Q4 and was completed during 2011-Q2. Phase 1 comprised of 7,682 metres of confirmation diamond core drilling and over 200 metres of trenching and channel sampling at the Nama Creek and Conway claim blocks.
- The drill program concentrated on the Nama Creek claim block; additional confirmation drilling is required to bring the balance of the historic resource estimate at the Conway claim block to NI43-101 standards though it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the remaining historical estimate being upgraded to a current mineral resource.
- The assay results also indicated showings for niobium, cesium, rubidium and beryllium.
- For more results from the Phase 1 exploration program, please refer to the Company’s news releases disseminated on April 13 and March 15, 2011.
Preliminary Drill Program (December 2009 to January 2010)
- 750 metres of confirmation diamond core drilling was conducted at the Conway, Aumacho and MNW claim blocks (total of 11 holes).
- The results of the preliminary drill program confirmed the Li2O grades included in the historic estimates in two holes at the Conway claim block and showed the potential for rare metals at both the Conway and Aumacho claim blocks.
- Please refer to Rock Tech News Release dated February 19, 2010
Field Program 2 (December 2009)
- Ground samples taken during this program indicated average grades of 1.73% Li2O, with grades as high as 7.22% Li2O, 3.54% beryllium, 3,870 grams/ton cesium and 1,490 grams/ton rubidium.
- Please refer to Rock Tech News Release dated January 21, 2011
Field Program 1 (November 2009)
- Ground samples taken during this program indicated average grades of 2.12% Li2O, with grades as high as 3.34% Li2O, 462 PPM beryllium, 283 grams/ton cesium, 210 grams/ton niobium, 0.12% rubidium and 190 grams/ton tantalum.
- Please refer to Rock Tech News Release dated December 17, 2009
On-Going Work Programs
- Road improvement and bridge/culvert construction is ongoing.
- The Company maintains continuous consultation with the First Nations and the government ministries.
- Ongoing baseline environmental assessments are conducted.
- Permitting protocols are adhered to.
NI 43-101 Technical Report (16MB PDF)
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