Nova Minerals subsidiary Snow Lake Resources reports first assays from Thompson Brothers lithium project
Snow Lake Lithium currently has three rigs operating on site around the clock at the Thompson Brothers lithium project in Manitoba.
Nova Minerals’ (ASX: NVA) US-based subsidiary Snow Lake Resources has received the first three assays from a 40-hole drilling program at the northeast extension of the Thompson Brothers spodumene pegmatite deposit in Canada.
Best intercepts were 1.49% lithium oxide over 34.5m and 1.52% lithium oxide over 18m located close to surface.
Other holes completed to date demonstrate the “pinch and swell” character of crystallisation on the northeast extension of the deposit.
The Thompson Brothers dyke appears to extend beyond depths of 500m and additional drilling will be required to continue defining the deposit along strike to the northeast.
Nova believes the northeast extension of the deposit remains “very promising” for the location of a future open pit to start mining of the resource.
Nova chief executive officer Christopher Gerteisen said he was pleased with Snow Lake’s progress.
“Snow Lake is making great strides in advancing the Thompson Brothers project with further results now pending and all studies being carried out concurrently,” he said.
“It is evidently clear the scale of the project is growing significantly, and we see vast growth ahead as milestones continue to be met.”
Scoping study
Snow Lake has commissioned a scoping study to assess a proposed lithium hydroxide plant in south Manitoba, 700 kilometres from the Thompson Brothers mine.
The study is an important step in creating North America’s first fully renewable, fully electric, integrated lithium processing operation and represents a significant move in Snow Lake’s ambitions to provide domestic lithium hydroxide supply.
It will identify the technologies, innovations, skills and potential partners required to deliver a world-class lithium hydroxide plant within the Manitoba province.
Accelerated to production
Snow Lake chief executive officer Philip Gross said the study would accelerate the company towards commercialised lithium production from Thompson Brothers and the proposed plant.
“Lithium hydroxide is the foundation of electric vehicle battery technology and North America has no production to rely on for the substantial industry commitments to electrification,” he said.
“We are committed to being a part of the solution while at the same time ensuring the highest standards of carbon neutral and fully renewable lithium.”
The scoping study is expected to be finalised early next year in parallel with continued engineering evaluation and drilling programs across the Thompson Brother site.
Nova expects the mine will transition to commercial production in late 2024.
Board appointment
Nova today announced the appointment of experienced mining executive Rodrigo Pasqua to its board of directors to provide technical and corporate advice as it progresses the development of its flagship Estelle gold project in Alaska.
Mr Pasqua has worked at corporate offices and mining sites across the world, including a tenure at Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN) as group head of mining and transformation.
His skills encompass most aspects of underground and open pit engineering from mining studies, financial valuations and project execution to systems and new technology implementation, operations management and technical teams’ supervision.
Mr Pasqua’s career has seen him work on projects in Australia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America.
He is a member of the Australian Institute of Management and holds a degree in mining engineering from the University of São Paulo.
“Rodrigo’s work in unlocking the value of mining projects across the world — including specific expertise in large tonnage bulk mining operations — has already proven valuable as we progress our next level studies, and we are extremely pleased he has agreed to join the Nova board at this exciting time in our development,” Mr Gerteisen said.
“We look forward to having him as part of our experienced mining team as we continue on our path to production, with our ultimate goal of becoming the next tier one, global gold producer.”