Geochem points Critical Resources towards next Canadian lithium prize
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Murray Region
Critical Resources has uncovered intriguing new leads pointing to the next lithium discovery at its Mavis Lake project in Ontario, Canada. New geochemistry results confirmed the presence of highly productive lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites in a recently expanded exploration area.
Geological markers from the company’s 10-day field program successfully identified the most likely ground, identifying granite-bearing pegmatites as high priority targets for follow-up drilling.
Whole-rock geochemical analysis, which tested various elements from 106 rock samples, showed potassium-rubidium ratios as low as 17.4; This is an important indicator of pegmatite productivity and the kind of result that will enable lithium prospectors to reach the drilling rig.
Companion pathfinder results were also strong; Up to 5510 parts per million (ppm) of rubidium, 221 ppm of cesium and 53 ppm of tantalum confirmed the presence of a highly developed LCT system.
‘With an exploration target of 18-29 million tonnes, our goal remains to develop Lake Mavis into a multi-bed lithium zone.’
Tim Wither, general manager of Critical Resources
Critical says the strongest signs of fragmentation were found in the northern claims 12 months ago. The result proved to be a clear validation for the company’s exploration strategy; It confirmed a very forward-looking corridor and suggested that their geographic location was on the right track.
The final field program was designed to systematically test lithium potential throughout the project’s Corona pegmatite field and adjacent Northern potential area.
Critical’s geographies mapped 161 outcrops, identifying six new pegmatite bodies grading 1.07 percent lithium oxide, located four kilometers north of the company’s existing eight-million-tonne resource.
The latest results will now be integrated into the company’s existing geological, structural and geophysical data sets to rank and prioritize future drilling targets.
The company says the study supports its district-wide strategy at Mavis Lake, which previously identified a similar target pipeline including Gullwing, Tot, Little Wing, Coates, Drope and Corona.
The company’s goal is to develop its existing resource and pursue a more significant JORC-compliant resource to support its current exploration target of 18 to 29 million tonnes grading 0.8 to 1.2 percent lithium oxide.
Tim Wither, managing director of Critical Resources, said: “These results continue to enhance our exploration strategy at Lake Mavis. The 2026 field program was designed to systematically evaluate pegmatites identified during our regional exploration program, and whole-rock geochemistry successfully identified the most likely targets for the next phase of exploration.”
While Mavis Lake is the flagship project, Critical is nothing more than a one-trick pony. The company has a diversified portfolio in New South Wales and New Zealand.
The company has an existing resource of 840,000 tonnes at Halls Peak in NSW, consisting of 3.7 per cent zinc, 1.5 per cent lead and 0.44 per cent copper.
However, it is their gorgeous silver quality that gets the pulse racing; A historic drill hole returns a stunning 1.15 meter intercept with a bonanza of 3,780 kilograms per tonne of silver.
Across the trench in New Zealand, the company holds a large 1694 square kilometer ground package prospective for gold at the Cap Burn and Rock and Pillar projects, as well as an antimony and particularly high-grade tungsten discovery at the Granite Creek mine, yielding a striking 16.63 per cent tungsten trioxide channel sample.
In addition, Critical continues to develop its exciting solid-state battery technology in the US, which has recently reached major milestones.
With geochemical smoke pointing to a potential lithium fire, the company has now defined a clear exploration path forward. Although the geochemist’s work was done for now, the data provided a solid technical framework that would pave the way for the drill bit to make the final determination of what might be beneath the surface of Lake Mavis.
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