Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (TSX-V: CRE, OTCQX: CRECF) reported high-grade lithium, tantalum, and cesium from the final holes of its winter drill program, significantly expanding the scale of its Rose West project in Quebec.
"The drilling campaign has clearly met our initial goals; expanding the know mineralized volumes and demonstrating the lateral continuity of the grades in Lithium and Tantalum oxides," Kenneth Williamson, Director of Exploration, said in a statement. "We are confident in our 3D model which so far has proven to be predictive."
The 19-hole, 4,038-meter program increased the mineralized footprint from 450 by 370 meters to 1,250 by 800 meters. Results included a highlight of 1.73% Li₂O over 15.60 meters in hole RW-26-40, which contained a richer interval of 2.90% Li₂O over 7.35 meters. Hole RW-26-43 returned a notable intercept of 2.28% Li₂O along with 2,796 parts per million Ta₂O₅ and 0.4% Cs₂O over 1.20 meters.
These results confirm the potential for a large-scale, near-surface resource at Rose West, which sits just 10 kilometers from the company's more advanced Rose project. Critical Elements is preparing for a follow-up summer drilling program to further define the mineralization.
Footprint Expands to 1,250 M by 800 M
The primary achievement of the winter program was the successful expansion of the mineralized footprint. Drilling tested for lateral continuity and the potential for additional lithium-bearing pegmatites below the known zones. The company confirmed the presence of a stacked, sub-horizontal system of pegmatite dykes that typically range from 10 to 40 meters in thickness. The expansion is a nearly seven-fold increase in the potential mineralized area first identified in 2024.
New Pegmatite Zones Add Resource Potential
Drilling also identified three new spodumene-bearing pegmatite bodies, including Pegmatite 5 and Pegmatite 7. The discovery of these new zones supports the company's geological model and could lead to rapid growth of the mineral inventory. Hole RW-26-50, which hit Pegmatite 7, returned 1.13% Li₂O over 12.90 meters. The results from the new zones, combined with the high grades in the main pegmatites, suggest a robust and expanding mineral system. The company also noted that cesium grades appear to be increasing toward the southern part of the project area.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.