Hard-rock lithium explorer and developer Winsome Resources Limited’s (ASX: WR1) exploration partner, Technominex, is well advanced with the stripping, sampling and mapping of the main pegmatite dyke at the company’s flagship Cancet Project in Quebec, Canada.
Environmental permits for the stripping work were received in July 2022. Work commenced approximately two weeks ago with the team of four personnel staying at a temporary camp, set up by the Company, close to the main ore body.
Two additional exploration teams are currently at the Adina project for a three-week rotation in the field. They will return to Cancet later this month to carry out further exploration work.
“It is exciting to see exploration work at Cancet progressing to the next stage. Exposing sections of the main pegmatite dyke and carrying out channel sampling will help us build a clearer understanding of the highly prospective area,” Managing Director Chris Evans said.
“At the same time, it is pleasing to see exploration work continuing on schedule at Adina and to know we are on track to carry out the next drill campaigns through the approaching autumn and winter seasons at both projects.
“Winsome continues to progress exploration on time and on budget, on the pathway to declaring a maiden JORC resource.
“At the same time, as announced in our recent quarterly report, the Company is investigating additional projects and acquisition opportunities to ensure we continue to build a robust portfolio of lithium assets that will bring value for shareholders.”
Outcrop Stripping
A small excavator was used at Cancet for the mechanised surface stripping of the surface cover. The process included removing vegetation and soil over the targeted outcropping rocks, notably pegmatite dykes where mineralisation is known or suspected.
Pressurised water pumps and water hoses were then used to wash soil and debris off the rock. The exposed dykes provide the Company with detailed information about the type of rocks, the lithological and geo-structural characteristics, and the minerals present.
Channel sampling will be conducted along lines about 20-25m apart, with samples collected across the full exposed width of the pegmatite dykes.
Outcrop stripping will permit detailed mapping and examination of the geo-structural, mineralogical and alteration patterns on exposed rocks to determine mineral zoning, continuity and controls on mineralisation within the pegmatite.
This information will then be used to design the next drill program around the main dyke at Cancet, which is expected to commence in the Canadian autumn/early winter, later in 2022.
As part of a second stage of exploration, drones may be used to conduct detailed 3D Lidar mapping and photogrammetry of the pegmatite dykes and their geo-structural and lithological setting. Such 3D surface maps would complement and further refine the 3D geological model, ascertaining its lateral limits and volumetric estimate.
The exposed pegmatite rocks now permit the optimal selection of a bulk sample, should it be required for advanced stage variability metallurgical testing and/or feeding a pilot plant.
Wider exploration work – Cancet and Adina
The company has secured a helicopter portable Reverse Circulation (RC) drill rig and a diamond rig for early October. The rigs will be used to investigate the new pegmatite occurrences recently discovered at Cancet and any new pegmatite discoveries made at Adina from the current field exploration trip.
It is relatively rare to use RC drill rigs for exploration in Canada as Diamond or Core has been the historically preferred drilling method. The company has spent some time locating and sourcing a diamond drill rig for use at Cancet as it is faster, cheaper and easier to set up than a traditional diamond rig. This will allow more targets identified during the current summer field exploration program to be investigated and will allow more rapid identification of mineralised pegmatites at the target areas. As mineralised pegmatites are identified then a follow up diamond drill programme will rapidly commence to gain more detailed geological and structural information on the ore body.
For further information please visit: https://winsomeresources.com.au/
