Ontario’s Next Major Lithium Discovery on White Willow?
The geochemical analysis of 618 rock samples from the White Willow Lithium Pegmatite Project, located 170 km west of Thunder Bay in Ontario, indicates strong potential for spodumene-bearing veins on the property. After five weeks of fieldwork, Usha Resources Ltd. (TSXV: USHA; OTCQB: USHAF; FWB: JO0) has already identified ten key drilling targets over a strike length of 25 km. Before the onset of winter, the company has now sent two teams back to the site to record a maximum of information for up to six weeks. Further mapping, sampling, and prospecting work are intended to optimally prepare for the planned winter drilling campaign.
The potassium/rubidium ratio (K/Rb) is considered an important indicator in identifying spodumene-bearing veins. K/Rb ratios of 30 indicate rare earth pegmatites and 20 indicate pegmatites of the spodumene subtype category. Values below 10 are often associated with economically mineable spodumene pegmatites. So far, 10 pegmatites with K/Rb ratios of 30 have been identified, with the lowest value being 7.5. The company intends to drill each of the 10 target pegmatites as part of its initial drilling program. Highlights of the results include up to 0.5% Li2O, 1,730 ppm cesium, 120,000 ppm tantalum, and 3,540 ppm rubidium.
Ontario’s Next Major Lithium Discovery on White Willow?
The focus of the third phase of fieldwork is on the detailed examination of the targets at Bingo and Maple Leaf, as well as further exploration and evaluation of the terrain between these two Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite swarms.
Deepak Varshney, CEO of Usha Resources, commented: “We are thrilled with the results at White Willow. We now have 10 primary target areas along our more than 25 km long trend, including two highly evolved LCT pegmatite swarms at Bingo and Maple Leaf. There is still a lot of land between Bingo and Maple Leaf that can be further explored and followed up on. The results to date strengthen our conviction that Willow is a flagship project where Ontario’s next major lithium discovery will occur.”
Conclusion: Even if the stock market currently shows little interest, it is clear that Usha Resources is working solidly and making systematic progress in exploring its White Willow project. Identifying 10 qualified drilling targets in a short time is a statement. While currently only experts may be able to properly interpret the detailed analysis results, this is also an important target group, as they often advise funds looking for investments in the industry. The high-grade occurrence of 14.64% Ta2O5 at the Maple Leaf vein should catch the attention of experts. After all, coarse-grained tantalite with comparable grades has only been found in the North Aubrey pegmatite on Green Technology Metals’ (GT1) Seymour Lake project. There, GT1 has identified a resource of 9.9 million tons with 1.04% Li2O. Moreover, it is known that lithium pegmatite swarms occur in groups. White Willow thus still has plenty of potential to grow.
