Burley grows Canadian lithium exposure, picks up 1100 km2 across 5 projects

Burley Minerals to acquire 5 lithium projects in highly sought after, underexplored province of Manitoba, Canada
Company already holds the Chubb lithium project in Quebéc
Assaying of historical exploration results planned

Special Report: Burley Minerals is acquiring five lithium projects in the heart of the emerging lithium province of Manitoba, Canada – which will add around 1100km2 to its landholding in the region.

The company already owns the Chubb lithium project which is close to Canada’s only operating lithium mine, the 58Mt @ 1.23% Li2O North America Lithium (NAL) operation jointly run by Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA) and Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL).

Earlier this month, metallurgical test work at the project showed Chubb Central spodumene-bearing pegmatites are showing >6% commercial grade Li2O with recoveries of up to 72% – a huge value-add to proving up the claims in the emerging Abitibi lithium precinct in Quebec, Canada.

Now, Burley Minerals (ASX:BUR) is casting its eye at more land in the area, picking up 1,100 km² comprising two granted mineral exploration licenses which over the Cormorant and the White Rabbit projects.

The company’s subsidiary, Bouvier Lithium, has also applied for exploration claim applications for the Paull Lake, Partridge, and Oxford Lake projects.

Notably, the projects share the same greenstone belts as other world-class lithium deposits and provide exposure to Superior Province terrain in Manitoba, an emerging and extremely underexplored for pegmatites.

In the right neighbourhood

The Paull Lake Project is ~30km from the 8.53Mt at 1.21% Godslith lithium deposit and ~70km from the Red Cross Lake lithium showing. The ground has previously been explored for base metals; however, while pegmatites were identified, no targeting or assaying for lithium was undertaken.

At Oxford Lake, claims adjoin the eastern margin of Native Mineral Resources’ (ASX:NMR) McLaughlin Lake claim block which has showings of up to 2.87% Li2O.

The Partridge and Cormorant projects have been historically explored for base metals with numerous pegmatite showings and intersections not assayed for lithium.

And at White Rabbit, pegmatite outcrops that are up to 2.5km long and 600m wide have been mapped.

“Following the exploration success Burley Minerals has had at its Chubb lithium project in the heart of the world-class lithium province of Québec, we are excited to have significantly expanded our land holding to cover a further ~1,100km2 in the emerging Manitoba lithium province,” BUR MD and CEO Stewart McCallion said.

“The addition of 5 new projects provide a unique value proposition to Burley’s existing lithium portfolio.”

Burley Minerals (ASX:BUR) — Pic: Manitoba, Canada lithium projects (blue) locations compared to newly acquired Burley lithium projects (yellow). Source: BUR.

Investigating historical results

At the new projects, outcropping pegmatite dykes have been mapped and pegmatite intersections logged in historic drill cores, with BUR planning to complete assays.

“The Burley exploration team can now leverage its substantial lithium exploration experience when preparing to begin exploration programs on the new properties,” McCallion said.

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.