Pioneer Lithium moves forward on geological program at LaGrande lithium project
Pioneer Lithium (ASX: PLN) has engaged consultancy group IOS Services Géoscientifiques Inc to undertake a geological reconnaissance program at its wholly-owned LaGrande lithium project in the James Bay region of Canada.
The program is expected to commence in the coming weeks and will be completed in two phases.
The first phase will include a desktop compilation of all historical data available on the three claim areas which comprise the company’s LaGrande project.
It will be followed by a second phase which will include the preparation of prospecting maps to help guide an initial fieldwork program.
Pioneer said the fieldwork program would involve geological mapping to identify pegmatite outcrops, as well as structural interpretation and the collection of rock chip samples for geochemical analyses.
The company aims to identify suitable host rock geology and test the dispersion of lithium-bearing pathfinder minerals associated with lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites.
Results are expected to enhance the company’s understanding of LaGrande and inform the planning of future exploration programs.
Partnering with IOS
Pioneer chief executive officer Clinton Booth said he was pleased to be partnering with the IOS team.
“Their knowledge of this area is invaluable and will be tremendously beneficial to our exploration activities at LaGrande,” he said.
“It is a great effort by our team to be able to schedule this fieldwork program so quickly after our ASX listing and before the snow sets in.”
Satellite imagery
Pioneer has engaged GeoCloud Analytics to obtain and analyse Sentinel-2 multi-spectral satellite imagery which will assist with potential pegmatite identification at LaGrande.
GeoCloud will also research surrounding areas where mineralised LCT pegmatites have been identified in an effort to establish a baseline response which can be applied over the wider La Grande project.
The application of satellite imagery in mineral exploration is useful for remotely mapping weathering and alteration pathfinders for mineralisation.
Project location
The LaGrande project comprises 92 claims totalling 46.88 square kilometres across the LaGrande Quatre West, LaGrande Quatre East and LaGrande Riviere claim areas in the James Bay region of Quebec.
LaGrande Quatre is located 12 kilometres north-east of the Corvette project (owned by Patriot Battery Metals, ASX: PMT); 20km east of Cancet (Winsome Resources, ASX: WR1); and 60km west of Corvette Far East (Cosmos Exploration, ASX: C1X).
The LaGrande Riviere claim area is located 25km northeast of the Brisk Li project, owned by Loyal Lithium (ASX: LLI).
The LaGrande project occupies a position along the Lac Guyer Greenstone Belt within the larger La Grande River Greenstone Belt which is dominated by volcanic and sedimentary rocks metamorphosed up to amphibolite facies.
It is also host to spodumene-bearing LCT pegmatites on several neighbouring projects.