The Bourier project consists of 203 claims for a total ground position of 10,252.20 hectares (102.52 km2) in a region of Quebec that boasts other lithium deposits and known lithium mineralization, as shown in the maps and table below. The lithium pegmatites tend to occur in swarms in the volcano-sedimentary units, and the Bourier property covers a large part of this regional volcano-sedimentary unit, which also hosts Nemaska Lithium’s Whabouchi deposit and Critical Elements’ Lemare showing.
Lomiko and Critical Elements Lithium Corporation mandated GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. in the summer of 2021 to conduct a remote targeting process for lithium, on the Bourier claims within the Nemiscau belt (see Figure 1 below). GoldSpot Discoveries Corp.’s proprietary approach of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and geological interpretation highlighted lithium potential at Bourier claims (see Figure 2 below) within the Nemiscau greenstone belt. This process has outlined a total of 15 high to moderate prospective lithium targets were identified.
Preliminary Summer 2021 field exploration results have revealed the discovery of five new sectors of spodumene-rich (Li) pegmatites, highlighting the potential of the Bourier project.
The compilation of discrete outcrop observations allowed a reliable update to existing geologic maps, resulting in a refined lithium exploration-oriented pegmatite map. A total of 99 pegmatite bodies were added to the current geological map, highlighting previously unknown potential for economic lithium mineralization.
An up-to-date structural interpretation was created based on a high-resolution aeromagnetic survey commissioned by Critical Elements. This survey revealed structurally complex patterns, including large-scale folds and major ENE-trending ductile fault zones.
GoldSpot generated lithium targets using a knowledge-based approach with Artificial Intelligence (AI) data-driven methods. The AI data analysis trains machine learning algorithms to predict the presence of lithium using all variables (features), both numeric and interpreted on a 10 x 10 m grid cell datacube. Once the model performs to a satisfactory level it is able to produce:
- a series of zones with relatively high probability of containing lithium;
- a ranking of feature importance for each input feature.
Prior to heading into the field to conduct surveys and test the algorithms GoldSpot prepared a map of probable outcrop zones, resulting from the AI analysis on high-resolution satellite imagery. The machine learning-assisted outcrop detection allows for time- and cost-efficient field exploration.
An exploration crew composed of Critical Elements’ and GoldSpot’s geoscientists conducted a 20-day prospecting program at the Bourier project, with focus on the high to moderate lithium targets generated by GoldSpot. The highlights of this program include the discovery of five new sectors of spodumene-rich (Li) pegmatite (laboratory analysis results are pending; Figure 2). These discoveries were made within, or the extension, of GoldSpot’s targets.
Figure 1: Location of Critical Elements’ projects, Eeyou Istchee, James Bay, Québec. Critical Elements and Lomiko Metals’ Bourier project on the Northeastern part of the Nemiscau belt.
Discovery
The main discovery, located about 11 km NE of the Bourier Lake, consists of muscovite and garnet pegmatites showing 1-5% of centimetric-size spodumene crystals (Figure 3), over an outcropping area of 40 x 30 m. Additional spodumene-rich pegmatites were sporadically found within a 1 km trend from the main discovery, highlighting the potential for wider mineralization system. Four other spodumene-rich pegmatites zones were found elsewhere on the property.
Figure 2: Lithium targets and location of new spodumene-rich pegmatites within Critical Elements and Lomiko Metals’ Bourier claims.
A total of 15 lithium exploration targets were identified (Figure 2), reducing the area of investigation to approximately 9.5% of the total claim holding. The newly interpreted pegmatite outcrops largely controlled the distribution of the lithium targets.
Figure 3: Main discovery. Spodumene-rich pegmatite, with aureole of Li-mica.
Key Terms of Lomiko’s Agreement with Critical Elements
GRANT OF FIRST OPTION
Critical Elements grants to Lomiko the exclusive right and option to acquire, on or before December 31, 2022, an initial 49% Earned Interest in the Bourier Property by issuing to Critical Elements an aggregate of 5,000,000 common shares of Lomiko, by making cash payment to Critical Elements totaling $50,000 and by incurring or funding Exploration Expenditures for a total amount of $1,300,000 on the Property, as follows:
- making a cash payment to Critical Elements of $25,000 within a delay of five (5) days following the execution of the Agreement (non-refundable);
- making a cash payment to Critical Elements of $25,000 within a delay of five (5) days following the receipt of the required approvals from the Exchange;
- issuing to Critical Elements 5,000,000 common shares immediately following the receipt of the required approvals from the Exchange; and
- incurring or funding Exploration Expenditures aggregating not less than $1,300,000 on the Bourier Property, of which an amount of $550,000 must be incurred or funded before December 31, 2021 and an amount of $750,000 before December 31, 2022.
GRANT OF SECOND OPTION
Subject to Lomiko having exercised the First Option, Critical Elements will also grant to Lomiko the exclusive right and option to increase its undivided interest in and to the Bourier Property from 49% to 70% by making a cash payment to Critical Elements of $250,000, by issuing to Critical Elements an aggregate of 2,500,000 common shares of Lomiko, by incurring or funding additional Exploration Expenditures for an amount of $2,000,000 and by delivering a resource prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 standards on the Bourier Property prepared by a Qualified Person independent of Lomiko and Critical Elements, for a period commencing on the delivery of the First Option Exercise Notice and ending December 31, 2023, in summary as follows:
- making a cash payment to Critical Elements an amount of $250,000 and issuing 2,500,000 common shares of Lomiko, on or before the date of delivery of the First Option Exercise Notice;
- incurring or funding additional Exploration Expenditures for an amount of $2,000,000 on or before December 31, 2023; and
- delivering the Resource Estimate to Critical Elements on or before December 31, 2023.
MILESTONE PAYMENTS
Subject to Lomiko’s right to withdraw from and terminate the First Option, Lomiko agrees to pay the following milestones payments to Critical Elements, payable at any time following the exercise of the First Option upon the occurrence of the following:
- On the estimation of a drilled defined resource (NI 43-101 compliant) of 5,000,000 tonnes at a cut-off grade of 0.6% Li2O (all categories) a payment of $750,000, payable in cash or in common shares of Lomiko at the sole discretion of Lomiko;
- On the estimation of a drilled defined resource (NI 43-101 compliant) of 10,000,000 tonnes at a cut-off grade of 0.6% Li2O (all categories) a payment of $1,000,000, payable in cash or in common shares of Lomiko at the sole discretion of Lomiko;
- On the estimation of a drilled defined resource (Ni 43-101 compliant) of 15,000,000 tonnes at a cut-off grade of 0.6% Li2O (all categories) a payment of $1,500,000, payable in cash or in common shares of Lomiko at the sole discretion of Lomiko; and
- On the estimation of a drilled defined resource (NI 43-101 compliant) of 20,000,000 tonnes at a cut-off grade of 0.6% Li2O (all categories) a payment of $2,000,000, payable in cash or in common shares of Lomiko at the sole discretion of Lomiko.
ROYALTY
Following the exercise of the First Option by Lomiko, and in addition to the amounts paid, common shares issued and Exploration Expenditures incurred or funded by Lomiko under the First Option and thereafter under the Second Option, as applicable, Critical Elements shall receive a royalty equal to 2% net smelter returns resulting from the extraction and production of any Minerals on the Bourier Property. The Royalty includes the right of Lomiko to purchase a portion thereof (1%) by paying to Critical Elements a total cash amount of $2,000,000.