The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
Sample assays from growing LDG and MacKay lithium projects North of 60 Mining News – September 22, 2023
A rock hammer on top of an MK1 pegmatite outcrop shows the scale of these exposed possible lithium-bearing deposits.
Click image for full map showing historical recordings from the Geological Survey of Canada from the 1940s.
North Arrow Minerals Inc. Sept. 18 and 20 announced assays from two of its lithium exploration properties – LDG and MacKay Lake – reporting significant lithium oxide from both and signaling the growing potential of its lithium portfolio.
Located within the Lac de Gras kimberlite field, home to the world-class Ekati and Diavik diamond mines, the LDG lithium project resides near the easternmost portion of a diamond exploration property just south of Diavik.
Covering an 18-kilometer corridor (11 miles) of underexplored metasedimentary rocks located adjacent to a fertile, two-mica granite – very similar in age and setting to the host rocks of the spodumene pegmatites of the Yellowknife Pegmatite Province. Less than seven kilometers (4.4 miles) of this trend has been prospected to date.
This prospective trend also has the advantage of being situated within five kilometers (3 miles) of the winter road infrastructure connecting Yellowknife to the Lac de Gras region. The size and lithium mineralization of two identified pegmatites – SD2 and SD4 – highlight the potential of the property.
In addition to SD2 and SD4, at least five other pegmatites, up to 50 meters wide, have been identified and require further mapping and sampling to understand their potential.
Samples were collected in the field from rock-sawn channels or as representative grab samples with a rock hammer. Gathered at one-meter intervals and chipped between parallel incisions cut nominally 3-4 centimeters apart and equally as deep, returns from this surficial exploration continue to impress North Arrow.
"We are pleased to confirm significant lithium assays from the SD2 and SD4 spodumene pegmatites discovered this summer at North Arrow's LDG lithium property," said North Arrow Minerals President and CEO Ken Armstrong. "Unfortunately, plans for drilling the property in September were suspended as a result of the wildfires impacting residents of the NWT. However, with thanks to the tremendous work of fire fighters, numerous volunteers and governments, NWT residents are safely returning to their communities, and we are able to renew field work focused on understanding the size potential of these pegmatites, as well as prospecting for new discoveries within this highly prospective area."
Highlights from LDG's sampling include:
• Five of seven representative grab samples from the SD4 spodumene pegmatite returned between 1.1% to 2.17% lithium oxide.
• Seven of eight rock sawn channel samples from the SD2 spodumene pegmatite returned 0.4% to 1.7% lithium oxide.
North Arrow has already followed up on these lithium-enriched pegmatites with exploration field work for more mapping and prospecting, as well as ground magnetic surveys. Additionally, the company is seeking ideal locations for proposed drilling ahead of its planned 2024 maiden drill program.
Approximately six kilometers (four miles) from the edge of its Lac de Gras diamond-lithium project, the eponymous MacKay Lake project is found near the MacKay Lake area in Northwest Territories.
Similar to LDG, MacKay is located adjacent to the Lac de Gras winter road. Due to its proximity, the company says exploration at MacKay will benefit from its existing land use permit and exploration camp.
Following LDG as a guide, samples were collected in the same fashion at one-meter intervals with 3–4-centimeter widths and depths.
Due to its early stage, pegmatite extent is still being determined; however, like its other lithium-bearing properties, North Arrow has already narrowed down potential targets.
"The MK1 pegmatite lies within the same prospective metasedimentary rocks as the SD spodumene pegmatites located on North Arrow's LDG property approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the north," said Armstrong. "Today's channel sample results confirm the potential of MK1 to host a significant new lithium discovery, a concept we look forward to testing as part of the spring 2024 drill program."
Based on limited field mapping, MK1 is interpreted as a series of irregular sub-parallel pegmatite dykes ranging from 0.5 meters to greater than 10 meters in width.
Spodumene mineralization comprises up to 20% of the pegmatite exposures, with crystals ranging from two to four centimeters in length. The pegmatites are intercalated with metasedimentary rocks over an estimated combined width of 150 meters and an interpreted strike extent of over 400 meters. Bedrock exposures are of relatively low relief with significant potential to extend the pegmatite along strike beneath overburden.
Highlights from MacKay's sampling include:
• Six of eight rock-sawn channel samples from MK1 spodumene pegmatite returned 1.16%, 1.34%, 1.87%, 1.9%, 1.93%, and 2.3% lithium oxide.
"Beyond MK1, the MacKay property covers an additional 14-kilometer length of this prospective metasedimentary corridor which is geologically very similar to the host rocks of the spodumene pegmatites being evaluated in the Yellowknife Pegmatite Province," added Armstrong. "We believe the opportunity for additional discoveries of spodumene pegmatites is significant and a field program is presently underway on both the MacKay and LDG properties, consisting of additional mapping, prospecting, sampling and ground geophysical surveys, ahead of drilling to be conducted in spring 2024."
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