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Phase 2 Drilling Returns Lithium at International Lithium Corp.'s Raleigh Lake Lithium Project

Sep 26, 2022


International Lithium Corp. has announced the complete assay results for Phase 2 of the diamond drilling program at the Raleigh Lake Lithium project near Ignace, Ontario.

Further to Company news releases dated February 9, March 21, May 17, and June 23, 2022; ILC completed 6,251 metres core drilling at the Raleigh Lake project in two phases. Phase 1 ran during the winter months of March and April 2022 where ten (10) holes were drilled for a total of 2,053 metres. Phase 2 ran from May 12 to June 30, 2022 drilling 4,198 metres in twenty-six (26) holes (Table 1). Phase 2 saw six holes targeting Zone 2 and twenty holes within Zone 1. This brings the total to eight holes drilled at Zone 2 and twenty-eight at Zone 1 in 2022 so far. 

Drilling Highlights

  • All but two holes testing Pegmatite 1 in Zone 1 intersected spodumene-bearing pegmatite demonstrating tremendous continuity of the mineralized body (see Figure 1).
  • Pegmatite 1 shows a distinct mineral zonation with intervals of rubidium-enriched monocrystalline megacrystic microcline that occurs in the roof portion and occasionally in the spodumene-rich core of the pegmatite.
  • Potential exists for the thicker higher-grade mineralization to exist closer to surface as the enriched zone appears to be trending up-dip, closer to surface, to the northwest where very little drilling exists.
  • Recent structural interpretations (including results from Zone 2) predict additional parallel pegmatite at depth as the drilling moves further to the north.
  • Phase 1 and 2 pierce points intersected Pegmatite 1 along a strike length of 300 metres and along its dip for over 175 metres.
  • Phase 3 drilling will test the near-surface potential of the spodumene-rich core over an up-dip extent of over 250 metres.

Pegmatite 1 Spodumene Zone Intersection Highlights*

  • RL22-27: 13.74 metres grading 1.90% Li2O (from 115.23 metres)

including 7.89 metres averaging 2.91% Li2in the spodumene core zone (from 120.51m);

  • RL22-29: 11.01 metres grading 1.32% Li2O (from 105.39 metres)

including 5.35 metres averaging 2.62% Li2in the spodumene core zone (from 107.15m);

  • RL22-30: 6.44 metres grading 1.64% Li2O (from 117.82 metres);
  • RL22-34: 10.74 metres grading 1.18% Li2O (from 99.76 metres);
  • RL22-35: 9.9 metres grading 2.45% Li2O (from 97.2 metres);
  • RL22-36: 6.46 metres grading 3.62% Li2O (from 96.24 metres);
  • RL22-37: 8.39 metres grading 2.73% Li2O (from 99.36 metres);
  • RL22-39: 6.91 metres grading 1.8% Li2O (from 117.16 metres);

Pegmatite 1 Rubidium Bearing Microcline Intersection Highlights*

  • RL22-33: 1.75 metres grading 1.43% Rb2O from 111.4 metres;
  • RL22-35: 2.44 metres grading 0.95% Rb2from 97.2 metres;
  • RL22-41: 2.8 metres grading 0.84% Rb2from 106.7 metres.

* All intervals reported are downhole core lengths. Accurate true widths are unknown at this time but are estimated to be within 70-100% of the reported intervals based on the geometry of the bodies and structural measurements on oriented core.

Phase 2 Drilling
Twenty of the twenty-six holes drilled during Phase 2 of the 2022 drilling campaign were cored in Zone 1 and tested the up-dip and eastern extent of Pegmatites 1 and 3. Zone 1 is a stacked set of shallow dipping pegmatite dykes that make up the main target of the first stages of exploration of the Raleigh Lake project.

Zone 1 pegmatites have been defined by drilling and surface exposures in an area exceeding 600 metres x 400 metres for Pegmatite 1. The Phase 2 drill holes were drilled interstitially to historic drill holes and the Company's previous drilling (Figure 1). Pierce points were planned to be at approximately 50 metre step outs from one another in preparation for a maiden resource calculation and to better define the core zone of Pegmatite 1 and its associated rubidium rich component.

The high-grade core of Pegmatite 1 is trending up-dip towards the surface exposure (Figure 1 and 2). This trend provides an additional 250 metres of up-dip extension for the high-grade core from the current drilling, bringing a good portion of the target closer to surface. Additionally, there are several smaller spodumene bearing pegmatites intersected at deeper depths below Pegmatite 1 which the Company interprets as providing significant discovery potential below and to the north of the current target area.

Six holes from Phase 2 were cored into Zone 2 targeting structures interpreted from airborne magnetic data and supported by lithogeochemical surveys showing elevated lithium concentrations. The down dip projection of Pegmatite 2, a small surface exposure of spodumene-bearing pegmatite approximately 750 metres northwest of Pegmatite 1 with a similar structural orientation, was also tested during this program but access to suitable drill sites was restricted due to topographical and terrain constraints. Results were encouraging with some spodumene bearing pegmatitic veins being intersected but more importantly the continuity of the Zone 2 pegmatites, which dip consistently to the southeast, project below Pegmatites 1 and 3 at Zone 1. The down dip potential of these spodumene-bearing dykes will be further investigated in future drill programs.



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