Summary:
The primary target and deposit model for the Shaakichiuwaan Property are lithium-cesium-tantalum ("LCT") pegmatites.
The CV5 Shaakichiuwaanaan Deposit is composed of one large pegmatite dyke with several smaller dykes with a strike going from east to west. The deposit has a length of approximately 4.6 km and is partially located under Lake 001. The pegmatite dyke has a dip of approximately 80 degrees-oriented north.
The CV Trend is recognized as an approximate 1-km wide and 25+ km long corridor, which is host to numerous distinct LCT pegmatite occurrences, and extends in a general east-west direction across the central portion of the Property’s primary claim group. The trend is interpreted to extend across the entire Property (~50 km); however, large areas remain to be explored for lithium pegmatite. The LCT pegmatites along this trend may outcrop as isolated high relief ‘whaleback’ landforms or relatively low-relief to flat landforms.
Eight distinct lithium pegmatite clusters have been discovered along the CV Trend at the Shaakichiuwaanaan Property – CV4, CV5, CV8, CV9, CV10, CV12, CV13, and CV14. Each of these clusters includes multiple lithium pegmatite outcrops in close proximity and oriented along the same local trend.
Mineralization
CV Trend (LCT Pegmatite)
Lithium mineralization at the Property is observed to occur within quartz-feldspar LCT pegmatites, which may outcrop as high-relief ‘whale-back’ landforms as well as low-relief landforms.
Spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) is the dominant lithium mineral identified at all the lithium occurrences documented to date at the Property. Spodumene crystals range in size from centimetre-scale to metre-scale and have approached 2 m in length in drill core at CV5 and CV13. Lithium (i.e., spodumene) content tends to be highest with higher contents of quartz and, correspondingly, lower with higher contents of feldspar. These two mineral assemblages manifest as a ‘high-grade’ versus ‘low-grade’ zonation within the pegmatite at CV5.
In addition to lithium, the pegmatites at Shaakichiuwaanaan typically carry a significant tantalum component, present in the form of columbite-tantalite.
CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite
At surface, CV5 is exposed as a series of discontinuous spodumene pegmatite outcrops spanning a corridor of approximately 2.25 km long x 0.5 km wide. Outcrops range in size from ~1-3 m in size to ~175 m long x ~15 m to 30 m wide (CV1 outcrop) and ~220 m long x 20 m to 40 m wide (CV5 outcrop). Spodumene mineralization at CV5 is comprised of decimetre to metre scale crystals, typically off-white to grey in appearance.
The principal spodumene pegmatite dyke at CV5 varies in true width from less than 10 meters to over 125 meters, exhibiting significant pinching and swelling along strike, as well as up and down dip. It is thickest at near-surface to moderate depths (<225 meters), forming a relatively bulbous, elongated shape that may expand variably toward the surface and at depth along its length.
CV13 Spodumene Pegmatite
The cluster is comprised of over 50 individual pegmatite outcrops, of which approximately half have been mapped as spodumene pegmatite (>5% spodumene). The two largest outcrops are approximately 70 m long by 12 m wide and 100 m long by 15 m wide, situated approximately 300 m apart, with the largest outcrop coincident with the apex of the regional structural flexure. The pegmatite outcrops define two contiguous trends, totalling approximately 2.3 km in combined strike length. The pegmatite contacts are poorly exposed on the northern and southern edges, although, where exposed, are often in contact dominantly with amphibolite, followed by ultramafic (undifferentiated), and/or wacke lithologies of the Guyer Group.
The pegmatite bodies are coincident with the apex of a regional structural flexure whereby the pegmatite manifests a west arm trending ~290° and an east arm trending ~230°.
The CV13 Pegmatite varies in true thickness from less than 5 meters to more than 40 meters and extends continuously over a total strike length of approximately 2.3 km along its western and eastern arms. The CV13 Spodumene Pegmatite, which includes all adjacent pegmatite lenses, remains open along strike at both ends and at depth along a significant portion of its length. Spodumene mineralization has been traced to a down-dip extent of more than 400 meters; however, due to the typically shallow dips of the pegmatite bodies, the vertical depth from the surface is approximately 200 meters.
CV4 Spodumene Pegmatite Cluster
Surface exploration to date at CV4 has identified five individual pegmatite outcrops spanning a strike length of approximately 500 m, of which two have been mapped as spodumene pegmatite (>5% spodumene). Four of the outcrops, including the two identified as spodumene pegmatites, are grouped in close proximity to each other, spanning a strike length of approximately 200 m. The largest outcrop is approximately 2 m wide and up to 35 m long. Modal spodumene contents of up to 25% locally have been documented in the pegmatite at CV4, with crystals described as pale to medium green at sizes from 5 cm to 30 cm on average.
CV8 Spodumene Pegmatite Cluster
The CV8 cluster consists of six pegmatite outcrops, of which five are spodumene pegmatite (>5% spodumene) and has a currently mapped strike length of approximately 250 m long by 10 m wide.
CV9 Spodumene Pegmatite Cluster
The CV9 cluster is comprised of 21 pegmatite outcrops, of which 13 are categorized as spodumene pegmatite (>5% spodumene). The outcrops form two distinct groupings of spodumene pegmatite (eastern and western), and collectively form a generally east-west trend of approximately 425 m, with the largest outcrop approximately 50 m x 25 m in size.
CV10 Spodumene Pegmatite Cluster
The cluster consists of three variably exposed pegmatite outcrops spanning a corridor of approximately 75 m long by 25 m wide. The largest of the outcrops is estimated at approximately 37 m long by 15 m wide and hosts 10% to 15% visually identified spodumene. Spodumene mineralization at CV10 consists of medium-grained light-grey anhedral crystals, typically ranging from 1 cm to 3 cm in size. The spodumene is commonly associated with black-purple tourmaline.
CV12 Spodumene Pegmatite Cluster
The CV12 Spodumene Pegmatite cluster is located at the east end of the FCI West claim block, approximately 500 m to 600 m north of the CV8 Spodumene Pegmatite cluster. The trend consists of at least 16 pegmatite outcrops separated by till cover, including three well-mineralized in spodumene. The cluster is highlighted by two large adjacent outcrops reaching >100 m in combined length and up to 28 m in width. Collectively, the CV12 Pegmatite cluster extends over an approximate 1 km trend.
CV14 Spodumene Pegmatite Cluster
Collectively, CV14 forms part of an approximate 3.6 km long prospective spodumene pegmatite trend extending through CV10, and to the CV9 Spodumene Pegmatite. The primary spodumene pegmatite outcrop is approximately 25 m long by 8 m wide. Spodumene crystals are typically medium grey at 5 cm to 10 cm in size.