Buried Treasure: Burley Minerals on the hunt for more lithium at Chubb

Diamond drilling kicks off at Chubb North following mapping and geochemical analysis.
Recent geophysics surveys have identified sub-surface anomalies that may represent ‘buried pegmatites’ to the northeast and south of Chubb Central’s mineralised zone.
More than 7,800m of diamond drilling completed since project acquisition in February.
More drilling planned to expand Chubb Central and explore Chubb North.

Diamond drilling has kicked off at Burley’s Chubb lithium project in the Tier 1 province of Quebec, Canada, following up six previously identified targets.

The Chubb project, acquired by Burley (ASX:BUR) earlier this year, is centred within the Manneville Deformation Corridor which hosts Canada’s only operating lithium mine – the North America Lithium Operation (NAL) owned by Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA) and Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL).

While the region is host to several other emerging projects including SYA’s Authier lithium project with resources of 17Mt at 1.01% Li20, the Chubb project remains relatively underexplored with BUR rapidly commencing a maiden drilling program in April.

Burley Minerals (ASX:BUR) — Pic: Supplied (BUR).

The ~7,800m of drilling completed thus far by Burley has confirmed spodumene mineralisation within the Main Pegmatite Dyke at Chubb Central through both visual observations and assay results, adding to historical drill results garnered prior to acquisition..

BUR have now recorded spodumene mineralisation at the Chubb Central Main Dyke over at least 560m length and 200m depth, with standout assays including 10.1m at 1.03% Li2O from 170m and 9m at 1.34% Li2O from 92m.

Spodumene was reported in other historic, unassayed drill holes, and in surface mapping, allowing company geologists to suggest that mineralisation should extend both to the southeast of the current drilling and at greater depths.

Possibility of ‘buried pegmatites’

Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) geophysics surveys were performed in August under the direction of Fleet Space Technologies (Fleet). Two surveys were completed over an area of approximately 100 hectares adjacent to the Chubb Central mineralised zone, collecting data over a period of six days per survey.

Fleet analysed the collected data and identified potential structural targets to the northeast and south of the mineralised zone at Chubb Central, which may represent emplacement sites for LCT pegmatites.

These areas represent an extension of the mineralised zone of more than 400 m to the south and a duplication of the mineralised zone, striking more than 1 km to the east.

‘Rig in place and making good progress’

Following the mapping exercise and geochemical analysis completed earlier at Chubb North, and now with approvals received, BUR has commenced a preliminary drill program to develop an understanding of the pegmatites’ structures and, identify lithium and pathfinder mineralisation.

“Burley’s exploration team are excited about the prospect of additional spodumene mineralisation at previously undrilled Chubb North prospect,” BUR managing director Stewart McCallion says.

“The diamond drilling rig is in place and making good progress.

“After completing more than 7,800m of infill and extension drilling at Chubb Central since April of this year, we will take this opportunity to review the data and logs, together with the results of the ANT geophysics survey to determine targets aiming at further expansion of the known spodumene mineralised zone.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Burley Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.