Beyond Minerals Inc. BY BYDMF (the "Company" or "Beyond Minerals") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a master services agreement with each of Bounty Gold Corp. ("Bounty Gold") and Last Resort Resources Ltd. ("Last Resort"), two leading prospecting companies in grassroots lithium exploration in the province of Ontario.
The Company will work directly with Bounty Gold and Last Resort to advance the properties through an assessment of currently available data and grassroots exploration field work to be carried out on the properties starting next month. The project teams at Bounty Gold and Last Resort are familiar with the geology of the various properties, having performed extensive analysis of government recommendations, historical geological reports and boots-on-the-ground reconnaissance work guided by data-driven techniques for the discovery of lithium, cesium, tantalum ("LCT") pegmatites within the province of Ontario.
"These agreements mean that Beyond will be able to deploy exploration teams on its properties as soon as the conditions on the ground permit. Planning and budgeting of 2023 field work is currently underway. Initially the focus will be on conducting a "first pass" grassroots prospecting exploration program on each property. This phase of exploration will involve conducting traverses to identify and document the characteristics of all exposed pegmatites encountered, and collect samples for geochemical analysis," commented Allan Frame, President and CEO. "The currently compiled information on our properties, and other available data, forms the basis for the development of our exploration plan aimed at establishing a mineral resource estimate at one or more of the properties."
As part of the current planning phase, geological maps, government reports, historic assessment work reports and satellite imagery have been used to identify outcrop exposure and the location of known pegmatites. This data is being used to plan traverses on each property which will maximize the number of outcrops and pegmatites visited by Beyond Minerals' consulting prospectors and geologists. The first phase of exploration is intended to identify the most fractioned/evolved pegmatites on each property and identify relevant geochemical trends. This will lead to a second phase of prospecting that will be more focused on those areas showing the highest potential for discovery, and will include activities intended to identify and de-risk diamond drill targets.
Jason Leblanc, President of Bounty Gold Corp. commented: "We conducted preliminary 'first pass' prospecting on a number of the Beyond properties in 2022, recording the location, photographing and documenting the minerology and characteristics (size/orientation) of pegmatites we found. We discovered several new rare-element pegmatites in the process, validating the staking methodology that we used to assemble our overall portfolio of properties. This next phase of exploration will serve to advance the Beyond projects forward and deliver further exploration success."
The possibility of making new rare-element discoveries, including spodumene-bearing pegmatites, exists with all phases of exploration including the initial grassroots prospecting program. The effectiveness of the Beyond exploration program will be enhanced through the use of a portable LIBS analyzer that will allow real-time, semi-quantitative geochemical analysis of pegmatites to enhance on-the-spot decision-making by field teams.
Mr. Leblanc concluded: "Beyond Minerals' field teams are eager to commence exploration field work. Initial reconnaissance work to confirm snow conditions and verify road accessibility will commence next week. Snow cover is currently estimated at 75% snow cover-25% exposed in forested areas, and 25% snow cover-75% exposed in open areas (clearcuts). Given the current rate of spring thaw, it is anticipated that the full grassroots prospecting program will commence on or about May 1st."
The Company recently became the largest greenfield lithium exploration player in Ontario by optioning 57 high potential greenfield lithium properties totalling 125,751 hectares and acquiring through staking three properties totalling 9,104 hectares, bringing its total lithium property portfolio in Ontario to 66 properties covering 147,975 hectares.
Source: http://www.beyondminerals.ca