Manitoba Lithium Projects
In late 2023, Burley signed a binding heads of agreement (“Agreement”) with the vendors of Aurora Lithium Pty Ltd (“Aurora”) to acquire five lithium projects in the heart of the emerging lithium province of Manitoba, Canada. Aurora is the legal and beneficial owner of the two granted mineral exploration licenses over the Cormorant Project and the White Rabbit Project. In addition, the Aurora vendors identified three additional projects which Burley’s 100% owned subsidiary, Bouvier Lithium Inc, has applied for exploration claim applications for the Paull Lake, Partridge and Oxford Lake Projects.
In January 2024, Burley announced it was granted three (3) additional Mineral Exploration Licenses for Paull Lake North, Patridge East and Partridge West Projects. The total land area of the three projects is approximately 425 km2, adding to the 255 km2 already granted. The granted land area is now approximately 680 km2 or 61% of the total acquired land package of approximately 1,100 km2. Mineral exploration lease applications for Oxford (~90 km2) and Paull Lake South (~340 km2) are in progress. Drill core from historic exploration on these projects are stored at various core ‘libraries’ around the province.
Paull Lake Lithium Prospect – 100% interest
The ~530km2 land package comprising Paull Lake North and Paull Lake South is covered by one Mineral Exploration License and one exploration application, and is strategically located in central Manitoba lithium district, close to, and sharing the same greenstone belt as, existing lithium deposits. Specifically, the Paull Lake Project is ~30km from the Godslith Lithium deposit of 8.53Mt at 1.21% Li2O[1], and ~70km from the Red Cross Lake lithium showing. The ground has previously been explored for precious metals; however, no targeting or assaying for lithium was undertaken. Historical exploration identified numerous pegmatite intersections described as white, grey, and green, and included feldspar, quartz, and muscovite minerals.
Partridge Lithium Prospect – 100% Interest
A land package of ~240km² comprising two exploration licenses recently granted over Patridge East and Patridge West, is in north-central Manitoba. The Missi Falls Hydro-electricity Facility is near the northwest corner of Patridge West, and an airstrip is also on the property.
Historical base metal exploration located numerous pegmatite outcrops and logged drill core intersections which were not assayed for lithium. Specifically, historic work recorded numerous pegmatite intersections in drill logs, which were described as coarse-grained and green to white. The main mineralogy consists of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, muscovite, tourmaline, garnet, columbite group minerals and zircon. The pegmatites were described as having variable thicknesses (5–30m), with graphic texture and predominantly sharp and straight contacts in outcrop.
Photo 1: Partridge Pegmatite Outcrop with Tourmaline
Oxford Lake
The ~92km2 land package in an exploration claim package application is in the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield, less than 20km from the Oxford House township, and is accessible via a road that transects the eastern section of the property. Claims adjoin the eastern margin of Native Mineral Resources Holdings Limited’s (ASX: NMR) McLaughlin Lake claim block which has pegmatite dykes containing up to 2.87% Li2O[2]. The Project straddles part of the Oxford Lake greenstone belt as well as the same major fault as the McLaughlin Lake project.
Cormorant
The Project comprises a granted exploration claim of ~186km2, located in central Manitoba. The project is 56km from the town of The Pas and 110km southeast of the mining city of Flin Flon. The Project is directly accessible by road, with railway and hydro-electric power lines intersecting the property. Historic base metal exploration drilling intersected numerous thick pegmatites that are described as white, light green and pink with quartz, k-feldspar, and muscovite. Three historical drill holes are stored in core libraries that all have pegmatite intercepts, which have not been assayed for lithium.
Photo 2: Cormorant pegmatite visual: Hole 180-2
White Rabbit
A granted exploration claim of ~70km2 located in central Manitoba. The Project covers a 15km strike length of prospective greenstone belt and is located approximately 50km north of the CrossLake/Jenpeg lithium showing. Hydro-electric powerlines are adjacent to the northwest corner of the property. Pegmatite outcrops that are up to 2.5km long and 600m wide have been mapped during historic exploration work.
Figure 1: Manitoba, Canada lithium projects (blue) locations compared to newly acquired Burley lithium projects (yellow).
Figure 2: Eastern Central Manitoba lithium projects (blue) locations compared to newly acquired Burley lithium projects (yellow).
Table 1: Manitoba Tenement Schedule – All 100% Burley Interest
[1] Refer to Vision Lithium’s TSXV announcement dated 16 Feb 2021.
[2] Refer to Native Mineral Resources’ ASX Release dated 17 August 2023 and 9 October 2023.