Vital Battery Metals Spearheads Lithium Exploration in Northwestern Ontario

The mining landscape in Northwestern Ontario is witnessing a significant shift as base metals and precious metals mining companies pivot towards the exploration of critical minerals such as lithium. Vital Battery Metals is one company that has been making strides in the lithium exploration sector. Historically, the company has been involved in various mineral exploration projects including copper, but in recent years, it has shifted its focus towards lithium exploration. The company’s Schofield Lithium Project, located near Brunswick Exploration‘s Hearst project, is an example of this shift.

The Schofield Lithium Project, located approximately 60 km south of Hearst, Ontario, comprises 416 single-cell mining claims covering approximately 8,824 hectares. The project is easily accessible by logging road networks and is directly south of the Brunswick Exploration’s Hearst Lithium project. The project area, despite being underexplored, has seen sporadic exploration for gold, base metals, and more recently diamonds from 1960 to 2001. 

However, no work completed on the project has been focused on the economic potential of the pegmatites present. The geography of the Schofield Lithium Project is characterized by its location within the Quetico subprovince, which contains a variety of evolved S-type granitoids and pegmatites. 

There are 17 mapped pegmatite outcrops on the Project which have not been thoroughly tested for LCT (Lithium, Cesium, Tantalum) mineralization.

The Schofield Lithium Project’s nearology being strategically situated adjacent Brunswick Exploration‘s Hearst project is noteworthy. 

Brunswick Exploration’s Hearst package has shown chips sampling up to 5.15% Li2O, indicating the potential for lithium mineralization in the region. 

Other properties in the area include Newfoundland Discovery’s Newlands claims, and Noble Minerals’ Nagagami River claims.

Vital Battery Metals has commenced its exploration work on the Schofield Lithium Project. The exploration phase will consist of a 16-day, 3-stage prospecting program. The initial stage involves a thorough examination of all historic roads on the project, determining which are usable and which are not.

Following this, the next stage will be a prospecting and sampling phase. Over the course of 7 to 10 days, crews will traverse the project, attempting to locate and sample pegmatites noted in historic reports, as well as new ones that weren’t previously reported. The final stage of the program will involve hand stripping and channel sampling.

Adrian Lamoureux, Vital’s CEO and President, recently commented, “We are looking forward to sampling and mapping the numerous pegmatite outcrops on the Schofield Project during the Program. Once complete, Vital will have a key understanding of the Project’s geology and the potential of lithium bearing pegmatites.”

The exploration of lithium, a critical mineral for the renewable energy sector, in Northwestern Ontario, is a significant step towards Canada’s transition to a green economy. Companies like Vital Battery Metals are leading this transition, contributing to the region’s economic development while paving the way for a sustainable future.