Perth-based lithium explorer Winsome Resources on Monday declared a “globally significant” maiden mineral resource of 59-million tonnes at 1.12% lithium oxide at its Adina project, in Quebec.
“Just over a year ago, our first sampling expedition began at Adina, and it is a remarkable achievement by our exploration team to have since declared one of the largest hard rock mineral resource estimates in North America,” said MD Chris Evans.
Corresponding to a contained tonnage of 1.62-million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, the mineral resource estimate (MRE) is based on more than 27 600 m of drilling with assays taken from an approximate spacing of 100 m by 100 m.
“Winsome is one of very few lithium developers around the world with a large, high-quality resource in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction, which can integrate directly into the North American electric vehicle supply chain,” said Evans.
The declaration of the maiden resource estimate for the Adina project allows preliminary development studies to progress, including initial mine designs with a view to publishing project studies in the second half of next year.
The deposit comprises two adjacent large spodumene-bearing pegmatite zones with potential to be developed as one big mining operation.
Adina has five drill rigs operating with more than 25 000 m of additional infill and extensional drilling awaiting assay, targeting a MRE upgrade in the first half of next year.
Winsome is also well funded to undertake more than 50 000 m of infill and step-out drilling in 2024 at Adina.