North Arrow Minerals Inc. [TSXV-NAR] reported lithium assay results from fall 2023 exploration work at its 100%-owned MacKay and LDG lithium projects, Northwest Territories. The two properties are located 10 km apart, along the alignment of the annual winter road connecting Yellowknife with the Diavik diamond mine, approximately 13 km to the north of LDG.
Highlights: At the MacKay project, 14 of 17 samples collected from the newly discovered MK3 pegmatite have returned over 1% Li2O (lithium oxide), including five representative grab samples returning 5.25%, 4.08%, 2.71%, 1.92% and 1.10% Li2O.
A composite rock sawn channel sample from MK3 returned 2.10 % Li2O over 4 metres. Two additional composite four-metre channel samples from MK3 have returned 1.49% Li2O and 1.43% Li2O.
Three representative grab samples from the previously unsampled northeastern extent of the MK1 spodumene pegmatite returned 3.21% Li2O, 2.62% Li2O and 0.11% Li2O.
Representative samples from the northern extent of the LDG project’s SD2 spodumene pegmatite have returned 3.19% Li2O, 1.53% Li2O and 1.46% Li2O, extending confirmed spodumene mineralization 260 metres to the north.
A prospecting sample has returned 5.57% Li2O at the southern end of a newly mapped 200-metre long subcropping spodumene pegmatite approximately 120 metres west of the main SD2 pegmatite showing.
Ken Armstrong, President and CEO, commented, “The initial lithium assays from the MK3 spodumene pegmatite at North Arrow’s MacKay Project are highly encouraging and confirm MK3 as a new drill target. Additionally, the confirmation of significant lithium grades in the SD2 area of the LDG Project provides confidence the area hosts multiple, subparallel spodumene pegmatites. Collectively, these results help advance our thesis that the LDG and MacKay Projects could host spodumene pegmatites of similar size and grade to the deposits currently being drilled by other workers in the Yellowknife Pegmatite Province (YPP). With the MacKay and LDG Projects, and the DeStaffany Project in the YPP, North Arrow now holds a 100 per cent interest in three Northwest Territories lithium projects where, during 2023, we have defined multiple drill ready spodumene pegmatites. We are working towards seeing all three properties drilled in 2024.”
MacKay Lithium Project: The MK3 spodumene pegmatite was discovered this fall and is a prominent 15 to 20-metres wide, white pegmatite exposure with common 2-30 cm long spodumene crystals. MK3 has been traced near continuously for approximately 130m and remains open along strike to the west. Five representative grab samples, collected from various locations along the showing have returned 5.25%, 4.08%, 2.71%, 1.92% and 1.10% Li2O. Three follow-up channel samples, each four metres in length, have returned 2.10% Li2O, 1.49% Li2O and 1.43% Li2O, providing a good representative indication of lithium mineralization within the pegmatite. It’s important to note the channels were cut from outcrop areas amenable to sampling with a rock saw and did not test the entire exposed width of the pegmatite. An image showing the locations of the channel and grab samples at MK3 can be found here and below.
Follow up sampling of the MK1 pegmatite, discovered earlier this summer approximately 4.5 km to the east of MK3, focused on the eastern extent of the showing, where three representative grab samples returned 3.21% Li2O, 2.62% Li2O and 0.11% Li2O. These results build on earlier sampling, from which 10 of 12 rock samples returned over 1.1% Li2O and extend confirmed spodumene mineralization at MK1 to a total strike length of 450 metres. An image compiling significant assay results from MK1 can be found here and below.
The MacKay project area has also been expanded to 8,661ha with the staking of additional mineral claims and hosts additional evolved pegmatite occurrences that require follow up evaluation in 2024.
LDG Lithium Project: New assays from the SD2 target area on the LDG property extend confirmed spodumene mineralization 260 metres northwards with three representative grab samples returning 3.19% Li2O, 1.53% Li2O and 1.46% Li2O. In addition, a separate, subcropping pegmatite has returned 5.57% Li2O. This sample was collected at the southern end of a 200-metre long, subcropping spodumene pegmatite running sub parallel to and approximately 120 metres west of the main SD2 pegmatite showing.
Outcrop exposures at both the SD2 and SD4 areas, where July sampling returned assays of up to 1.7% Li2O and 2.1% Li2O, respectively are generally of low profile and limited by extensive glacial overburden. However, ongoing interpretation of field mapping data and detailed orthophoto and geophysical information indicate these pegmatites may extend beneath overburden along their interpreted strike.
North Arrow is evaluating spodumene pegmatites at its 100%-owned LDG, MacKay, and DeStaffany Lithium Projects (NWT) and is also exploring for lithium in Nunavut at the Bathurst Inlet pegmatite field and continues work to identify additional lithium exploration opportunities in northern Canada.
