Ireland

Ireland

Source: Geology.com

Geological Survey of Ireland

Beggars Bush
Haddington Road
Dublin
D04 K7X4

Tel. +353-1-678 2000
Fax +353-1- 668 1782
LoCall 1890 449900

Source: Geology.com

Spodumene and spodumene-free pegmatite dikes occur along the eastern margin of the S-type Leinster Granite batholith. The pegmatites consist of quartz, alkali feldspar and small amounts of muscovite; they contain trace quantities of oxide minerals of Nb and Ta. The pegmatites in the SE region are of special interest, because they include up to 60 wt.% of spodumene (Li₂O contents over 4 wt.%). Greisenized Li-pegmatites show partial or complete replacement of spodumene and microcline by new lithian muscovite (up to 60 wt.% in the rocks) with high concentrations of Li, Rb, Cs and F; albite in the original pegmatites was changed into cleavelandite.

Capital Mining Limited (CMY.AX) is engaged in exploration in New South Wales, Western Australia and Ireland with a number of lithium pegmatite projects. Capital Mining recently completed first phase exploration program at the Company’s Wolfhound Lithium Projects in the Republic of Ireland. The exploration program was reconnaissance in nature and targeted the priority Ballon and Borris prospects within the project area. Exploration was designed to identify and sample spodumene pegmatites in order to define and refine priority exploration targets for the next phase of field work at the project. The program was successful in confirming the presence of pegmatite material at both prospects. The initial results will help confirm the project area’s potential to host lithium-bearing pegmatites, and validates Capital’s exploration rationale at the Wolfhound Projects. Spodumene-bearing pegmatites have previously been identified at two locations by the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), and the Ballon prospect is located immediately adjacent to International Lithium Corp's (TSXV: ILC) Avalonia Lithium Project. ILC completed a successful 23 hole–1756 metre diamond drilling program at the Avalonia Project in 2016, which returned high grade intersections including; 2.33% Li2O over 4.62m, and 3.29% Li2O over 1.67m Capital entered into a Binding Agreement to acquire 100% of the issued capital of Wolfhound Lithium Limited, the owner of the Ballon, Borris and Tinahely Projects, in June 2016. Capital subsequently completed the acquisition of Wolfhound and all seven Prospecting Licences. Applications covering the project areas have been granted. The projects cover a total area of approximately 270km² in the prospective Leinster Granite in the south east of Ireland.

International Lithium Corp. (ILC:CN) is a lithium resource developer with lithium prospects in Argentina, Canada and Ireland. It is 15% owned by TNR Gold Corp (TNR:TSX). International Lithium Corp. has recently reinforced its relationship with strategic partner Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co Ltd, from China, through an increased equity stake of 17% to further advance the core ILC projects. The Company’s primary focus is the Mariana lithium-potash brine project in Argentina. The 160 square kilometre Mariana project strategically encompasses an entire mineral rich evaporite basin that ranks as one of the more prospective salars, or ‘salt lakes’ in the region. A study, undertaken by South Africa’s Synexus using raw brine from the Salar de Llullaillaico location of Mariana, indicates that the selective recovery of lithium directly from raw (filtered) brine, with the simultaneous rejection of other cation and anion species, using a proprietary lithium selective separation process, is possible. The lithium resource developer said in an update to shareholders that, based on initial estimates, the membrane separation technology could achieve higher recoveries than natural evaporation, even with relatively low concentrations of lithium. Further, membrane separation has the potential to enable a considerable increase in production rate compared with evaporative ponds. The Mavis-Fairservice property in Canada consists of a package of nineteen adjacent mineral claims currently being explored by International Lithium Corp (ILC).  These include thirteen unpatented mining claims (the Mavis claims) and six patented mining leases (the Fairservice Property). Of 20 holes drilled, 17 intersected one or more intervals of pegmatite greater than 2 metres and up to 78 metres in drill width.  Thirteen (13) of the 17 drill holes intersecting pegmatites greater than 2 metres width returned notable lithium grades. Coarse grains (>5cm) of spodumene, the main lithium ore mineral, were common. The Raleigh Lithium Project has historic high grade intercepts in shallow dipping, flat lying pegmatites. The Forgan Lake project has historic high grade channel samples of 2.57% Li₂O over 6.4m, 4.23% Li₂O over 7.25m and 1.98% Li₂O over 7.6m. The Avalonia Lithium project is comprised of eight prospecting licences totalling 292 square kilometres centred 80 km south of Dublin straddling Counties Carlow and Wicklow in south-eastern Ireland. The Property encompasses an extensive NE-SW oriented 50 kilometre long rare metals pegmatite belt situated within the East Carlow Deformation Zone along the eastern side of the Leinster Granite. Since acquiring the licences in 2009, International Lithium Corp has conducted a series of exploration programmes to advance the project. Pegmatite intersected at Aclare containing 2.23% Li₂O over 23.3m including 3.43% Li₂O over 6.0m. width) confirms historical results. Multiple pegmatite dyke intersections and 1.50% Li₂O over 5.60m at Moylisha are consistent with historical results and confirm the prospectivity of the area. Step out drilling, 500m south of historical work at Moylisha, intersected lithium and other rare element mineralization within multiple, closely spaced, parallel pegmatites.