James Bay Minerals takes to the air to unveil new targets at Aqua

James Bay Minerals (ASX: JBY) has successfully utilised modern aerial survey technology to unveil a number of high-priority lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite targets across its Aqua property in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada.

The targets, which will be followed up in an upcoming field exploration campaign, have been highlighted following a study of results from recent airborne light detection and radar (LiDAR) and high-resolution photography flown across the James Bay’s La Grande and Troilus projects.

LiDAR has gained fame in recent years for its ability to uncover previously lost archaeological discoveries in places like Egypt and South America.

Modern mining technology

With the ability of aerial LiDAR surveys to produce a high-resolution topographical image of the surface, they are being used more frequently in recent times by the mining industry to measure and map out the variations in slope, aspect and elevation to study landforms.

It is particularly popular in areas such as James Bay due to the nature of the ground cover and landscape there.

The high-resolution nature of LiDAR surveys is designed to detect undiscovered or hidden pegmatites beneath vegetation.

Pegmatite outcrops are more resistant to weathering than other lithologies present in the project area and tend to present as topographic highs which can be detected by the high-resolution LiDAR survey.

Importantly, this technique has been successfully used in the James Bay region by other explorers and producers in the discovery of lithium-bearing pegmatites.

High-priority targets confirmed

James Bay’s executive director Andrew Dornan said the company’s exploration team has used the advantages provided by LiDAR to identify and confirm high-priority areas which sit proud of other structures, as these are some of the key geological features expected of LCT pegmatites in the region.

After structures have been identified utilising LiDAR, the James Bay Minerals team overlays these onto high-resolution photos where white outcropping is visible, generating key targets.

James Bay is planning to also use this methodology in the assessment of its other La Grande properties and its Troilus project.

Confidence in Aqua growing

“This is another exciting development for the company with over 120 LCT pegmatite targets identified across our Aqua property,” Mr Dornan said.

“Given we have the three key geological ingredients for giant LCT lithium-pegmatite deposits – along with FIN Resources’ (ASX: FIN) spodumene discovery on the border of our property – our confidence in the prospectivity at Aqua and the potential for a significant lithium discovery continues to grow,” he said.

James Bay and exploration partner Breakaway Exploration will now incorporate the new high-tech data in planning for an upcoming field program across the Aqua property, planned to commence in the first half of 2024.

Large Canadian lithium exploration holdings

James Bay, which listed on the ASX in mid-September, holds a 100% interest in one of the largest lithium exploration portfolios in the prime James Bay region of Quebec.

The Aqua, Joule, and Aero properties are located in the La Grande subprovince along trend from the Corvette deposit, where Patriot Battery Metals (ASX: PMT) recently reported a maiden Inferred mineral resource estimate of 109.2 million tonnes at 1.42% lithium oxide and 160 parts per million tantalum oxide.