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James Bay Minerals reports elevated lithium readings across 2.5km of Aero property

November 24, 2023

James Bay Minerals (ASX: JBY) has reported further elevated lithium readings during a maiden field exploration program at the prospective Aero property within its flagship La Grande project in Canada.


Using a portable SciAps LIBS Z-9031 analytical device, the company’s field exploration team was able to test a green mineral identified in outcrop and rock and channel samples taken from multiple points across the Hawker and Gauntlet pegmatites.


All samples had been taken from breaking pegmatite rock at surface and freshly-exposed rock up to 200 millimetres deep.


The elevated readings relate to spot analyses which targeted the mineral within the pegmatite and returned values showing strongly-anomalous lithium.

Initial observations ranged from 2% to 10% of the whole rock composition.


Visual identification

Organic coverage across the pegmatites (such as moss and lichen) meant the exploration team was unable to provide a visual identification of the mineralisation at surface or accurately estimate the percentage of lithium content.


The samples will now be subject to petrography and xray diffraction work to confirm if the green mineral identified is spodumene and if other less obvious lithium minerals are present.


Assay work will be used to determine actual lithium content.


Additional readings

James Bay said additional LIBS readings would explore other lithologies and exposed minerals around the Hawker pegmatite.


Anomalous but lower lithium values have already been recorded in accessory minerals within the pegmatite and in the wall rock material.


Comparative LIBS results of the green mineral have been reported to be much higher overall, indicating it to be the primary lithium mineralisation in the pegmatite.


The LIBS device is used for preliminary observations of lithium-bearing minerals, while petrographic analysis confirms grades and identifies all lithium minerals present.


Potential of Aero

Executive director Andrew Dornan said the new results point to the potential of the Aero property.


“These LIBS results represent another exciting development for our company,” he said.


“We now have lithium mineralisation confirmed across three separate pegmatites spanning a strike length of 2.5 kilometres [and] this is only the beginning… we look forward to building on these fantastic results over the coming year across all three of our properties at La Grande.”


The La Grande project is located along trend from the Cancet lithium project owned by Winsome Resources (ASX: WR1) and the world-class CV5 deposit owned by Patriot Battery Metals (ASX: PMT).




Source: https://smallcaps.com.au/james-bay-minerals-elevated-lithium-readings-across-aero-property/

Queensland breaks ground on CopperString

July 9, 2024
The Queensland Government has broken ground on the first construction works of the $5 billion CopperString project. Work commenced yesterday on the CopperString projects’ first and largest workforce accommodation site. The site will house those charged with building the project’s 840km high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mount Isa to the ‘SuperGrid’ for the first time. The workforce accommodation will house up to 550 construction workers at its peak. These workers will construct a nearby substation and progress early stages of the transmission line development heading west from Hughenden out to Mount Isa. Supercharging the state’s north-west aims to unlock Queensland’s $500 billion north-west minerals province. It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting. Queensland Premier Stephen Miles said CopperString is the biggest ever expansion to the state’s publicly owned energy system. “Queenslanders deserve cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy – to power their homes, our schools, hospitals, shopping centres and more,” Miles said . “CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming Queensland’s north and north-west – opening up mining opportunities, creating more jobs and unlocking critical minerals which will be essential in developing renewable technologies. “This is the start of a long and exciting future for the region and our state.” Commencing later this month, project owner, Queensland Powerlink, will be offering free sessions for businesses along the CopperString corridor to build their capabilities. The program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance to help businesses build confidence to bid on major projects and supply chain work in the region. “All of North Queensland understands the immense opportunities that CopperString presents for local jobs both directly and indirectly which is why this is such a momentous day,” Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said.  “Critical minerals are the next big boom for the resources industry and the feedback I’ve had from companies is that this project is key to unlocking those opportunities.” Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/queensland-breaks-ground-on-copperstring/

Showcasing the best in underground mining

July 8, 2024
Underground mines are busy places, and it’s vital companies are on top of their processes to enable an efficient and safe underground operation. Whether it’s having the best equipment to drive higher production, maximise return on investment, minimise waste or keep workers out of harm’s way, mining companies benefit from understanding and investing in the right underground technologies. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/showcasing-the-best-in-underground-mining/

BHP goes green at ‘world’s largest’ copper mine

July 8, 2024
BHP has started environmental processing to have the transport at its Escondida copper mine in Chile transitioned to an electric trolley system. The Big Australian will invest around $US250 million ($371.6 million) in the project at Escondida, which it owns in a joint venture with Rio Tinto. The funds will go towards installing key infrastructure to electrically assist the movement of extraction trucks in areas where the highest fuel consumption currently takes place. BHP has submitted an environmental impact statement to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. “The electric trolley system is one of the initiatives with which we seek to move towards a safer and more sustainable way of operating hand in hand with technology,” BHP Escondida president Alejandro Tapia said . “This project will allow us to reduce the fuel consumption of our extraction trucks and thus advance our goal of net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” The project includes the construction of a new electrical substation and transmission lines both inside and around the Escondida Norte pit. These facilities will electrically assist the movement of trucks inside the mine in the areas where they go up loaded with ore and, consequently, consume more fuel. With this new technology, instead of using diesel, they will be propelled by electrical power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving productivity associated with truck performance given the higher travel speed. Once construction kicks off up to 160 jobs are expected to be created. The trolley project is in addition to other technological transformation initiatives that the company maintains in different stages of study and execution, including the progressive incorporation of autonomy in its mining equipment.  To date, Escondida has six autonomous trucks in full operation and by 2025 it expects to have the largest fleet of autonomous equipment in South America. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/bhp-goes-green-at-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
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