03
September, 2024
Bradda Head Lithium
Ltd
("Bradda
Head" or the "Company")
Significant drill targets developed following
channel sample results at San Domingo Pegmatite Project
Share Option Repricing
Bradda Head Lithium
Ltd (AIM:BHL, TSX-V:BHLI,), the North America-focused
lithium development group, is pleased to announce the
results from surface channel samples at the San Domingo ("SD")
pegmatite project in central Arizona. The Dragon target contains
8.80 meters of 0.97% Lithium Oxide
("Li2O") and
10.40 meters of 0.68% Li2O, sampled from two
separate prospects on the same pegmatite. Elevated cesium ("Cs") is
also consistently present and elevated in the channel and rock chip
samples, an important element for the Department of Energy ("DOE")
and Cs is of significant economic value.
Channel Sample Highlights:
·
8.80m @ 0.97%
Li20 with 174 ppm Cs at Dragon South
·
10.40m @ 0.68%
Li2O with 341 ppm Cs at Dragon South
·
4.80m @ 0.41%
Li2O with 336 ppm Cs at Dragon North
·
9.00m @ 0.29%
Li2O with 325 ppm Cs at Dragon North
·
4.70m @ 0.28%
Li2O with 176 ppm Cs at Dragon North
·
1.90m @ 0.29%
Li2O with 609 ppm Cs at Dragon South
Highlights
·
Significant new drill tagetes developed at San Domingo following on
from a detailed surface channel sampling programme
· A total
of 84 channel samples were collected from Dragon South and North
targets at the San Domingo project and an additional 83 grab rock
chip samples from across the project;
· The
Dragon channel sampling focused on historic prospects where
exposure was fair to excellent;
· Dragon
South contains an excellent exposure on a northeast trending
pegmatite where sampling was conducted across its two prospects,
one of which is a large cut exposing abundant coarse spodumene
crystals and bordered by massive quartz, typical LCE pegmatite
zoning;
· Elevated
Cs is also noted across the Dragon targets with channel samples
running as high as 994 ppm and grab samples up to 1,317 ppm,
important as the DOE considers Cs a strategic and critical metal
and actively seeking it;
· Three
open cuts at Dragon North were sampled, some of which consist of
very coarse spodumene and lepidolite, containing 4.80m at 0.41%
Li2O;
· A
geographically dispersed set of 52 mica samples were collected from
pegmatites and analyzed with Libs, several revealing highly
fractionated pegmatites with robust lithium content and excellent
K/Rb ratios, fractionation across pegmatite swarms implicates
higher degree of lithium development;
· The
Company has commenced drill hole permitting on the Dragon targets,
proposing up to 40 drill sites to thoroughly test shallow lithium
mineralization;
· The
Company continues building additional geochemical and geological
data across the project with an emphasis on supporting shallow
drilling at Midnight Owl, Lone Giant, Thunder, White Ridge, Lower
Jumbo, and Morning Star.
Ian
Stalker, Executive Chair, commented:
"These surface
channel samples collected at the Dragon targets highlight just a
few of the objectives the Company is building for the next drilling
program and gaining encouragement on the extent of lithium
mineralization across the entire property. As we explore new or
orphaned areas, we continue to uncover new targets worthy of drill
testing and hope to continue bringing value to the San Domingo
pegmatite project."
The Dragon target is broken into two areas, North and
South (Figure 1, Table 1). The Dragon South target (Figure 2) contains
several historic prospects sunk on lithium-bearing pegmatites,
mineralization that exhibits an abundance of large spodumene
crystals, >1.0m. Prior surface rock chip samples contain upwards
of 7.99% Li2O and several >500 Cs (overlimits not
assayed), spurring interest to identify the nature of
mineralization and establish a mapping and sampling program. This
led to commencing a channel sampling program for better information
on the lengths of potential lithium mineralization in outcrop and
possible development of drill targets.
Figure 1. Location map of property, geology, drilling, Dragon
North and South targets to lower left of map
The channel sampling targeted both naturally
outcropping pegmatite, dozer cut pegmatite, and historically
excavated/mined pegmatite across both Dragon South and North.
Naturally exposed samples returned lower lithium values likely due
to surface weathering, but new (since 1945) exposures detected
better lithium values as the fresher spodumene reveals less
exposure to weathering. The best interval contains 8.80m at 0.97%
Li2O with 174 ppm Cs, and 131 ppm tin ("Sn") and was
collected from an excavated pit above a larger open cut on the
Dragon South target (Table 1, Figure 3). The lower cut contains
10.40m at 0.68@ Li2O with a high of 2.13%
Li2O over 1.5m and the entire interval contains 341 ppm
Cs, 107 ppm Sn, and 89 ("Tantalum Pentoxide")
Ta2O5. The overall apparent width of
mineralized pegmatite at this location is at least 12 meters,
although the full exposure is 20 meters in width.
Figure 2. Dragon South channel and rock chip samples, geology,
access routes
Several exposures are found at Dragon North (Figure 4) and courtesy of
historic mining plus excavation on lithium bearing pegmatites. The
south end of the northeast-southwest trending pegmatite contains
spodumene>lepidolite whereas the northern extent has
lepidolite>spodumene, noting the very coarse nature of muscovite
(pink lepidolite) intergrown with quartz and minor feldspar. Recent
excavations contain 4.80 meters at 0.41% Li2O, 336 ppm
Cs, and 121 ppm Ta2O5 in a lepidolite
dominated zone adjacent to a 9.00m interval containing 0.29%
Li2O, 325 ppm Cs, and 134 Ta2O5. A
separate pegmatite 30 meters to the northwest has excavations
exposing lithium bearing pegmatite with channel samples running
4.70m at 0.28% Li2O with 176 ppm Cs and 103 ppm
Ta2O5. Further to the north on the same
pegmatite, a small prospect contains minor spodumene and
lepidolite, carrying 2.50 meters at 0.19% Li2O, 27 ppm
Cs, 134 ppm Sn, and 534 ppm
Ta2O5, revealing localized very
elevated tantalum values.
Figures 3a & 3b above. Dragon South Li2O ppm (left) in
channel samples 8.80m @ 0.97% Li2O upper left channel,
10.40m @ 0.68% Li2O lower right, and Cs ppm (right) in
channel samples, upper left 8.80m, 174ppm Cs, lower right 10.40m,
341 ppm Cs
Figure 4. Dragon North channel and rock chip samples, geology,
access routes
Additional and new surface grab rock samples include
2.40%, 1.72%, 1.64%, 1.51%, 1.30% and 1.20% Li2O from
various outcrops across both Dragon South and North targets. Other
elements of significant interest are Cs with values up to 1,317
ppm, Sn up to 358 ppm, and Ta up to 437 ppm from select samples
across Dragon. Surface sampling continues across the property to
support the potential for channel sampling.
Dozens of muscovite ("mica") samples were collected
across the project and scanned by a third party with a Libs
hand-held scanning device, resulting in identification of several
highly fractionated pegmatites, including the Dragon area
pegmatites. Libs are widely used across the industry and provide
lithium, potassium, and rubidium geochemistry of mica minerals
within pegmatites. The Libs data helps identify and prioritize the
targets across the project. Further work into the results will
continue and possibly expanded where rock geochemistry is
inconclusive.
Table 1.
Dragon
South
|
Interval_m
|
Li2O
%
|
Cs_ppm
|
Sn_ppm
|
Ta2O5
|
8.80
|
0.970
|
174
|
131
|
45
|
10.40
|
0.680
|
341
|
107
|
89
|
6.20
|
0.004
|
509
|
25
|
26
|
1.90
|
0.290
|
609
|
253
|
137
|
4.70
|
0.070
|
300
|
25
|
57
|
Dragon
North
|
13.30
|
0.130
|
139
|
60
|
92
|
2.30
|
0.040
|
42
|
330
|
132
|
4.80
|
0.410
|
336
|
25
|
121
|
2.50
|
0.190
|
27
|
134
|
534
|
4.70
|
0.280
|
391
|
25
|
103
|
5.60
|
0.150
|
391
|
25
|
138
|
QAQC
Channel samples were cut in the field under the
supervision of Joey Wilkins. Sample location sites were labelled,
rock channels were bagged, tied-off, then transported to the core
shed under lock and key. Samples were shipped by the Company
directly to SGS Laboratories in Burnaby, B.C., Canada where SGS
prepped then analysed all samples using sodium peroxide fusion
combined ICP-AES and ICP-MS, method GE_ICM90A50. Certified
standards were inserted into the sample stream and reviewed by the
Qualified Person. Mr Wilkins consents to the inclusion of the
technical information in this release and context in which it
appears.
Qualified Person (Bradda Head)
Joey
Wilkins, B.Sc., P.Geo., is Chief Operating
Officer at Bradda Head and the Qualified Person who reviewed
and approved the technical disclosures in this news
release. Mr Wilkins is a graduate of the University
of Arizona with a B.Sc. in Geology with more than 38
years of experience in mineral exploration and is a qualified
person under the AIM Rules and a Qualified Person as defined under
NI-43-101. Mr Wilkins consents to the inclusion of the
technical information in this release and context in which it
appears.
Share Option Repricing
The Company also announces that
pursuant to its share option plan, it has reduced the exercise
price of 9,000,000 outstanding share options ("Existing
Options").
The repricing applies to Existing
Options previously granted to, amongst others, certain Directors
and Management of the Company pursuant to the Company's share
option plan. The Existing Options will be repriced from an exercise
price of £0.06 (CA$0.10), £0.09 (CA$0.15), £0.105 (CA$0.15), and
£0.18 (CA$0.29), as applicable, per ordinary share to £0.017
(CA$0.03) per ordinary share. No other terms of the Existing
Options are being amended. The repricing is being taken in response
to the current market challenges impacting the lithium sector, a
reduction in the ensuing Company's share price, and to better align
with the recent share options granted to certain officers and
directors of the Company.
The repricing of the Existing
Options is subject to the approval the TSX Venture Exchange, as
well as by a majority of votes cast at a meeting of shareholders of
the Company, excluding the votes cast by shareholders who are
subject to the repricing of the Existing Options. In the
event that any of such approval is not obtained, the Existing
Options will not be repriced. No Options may be exercised
until such approvals are obtained. Disinterested shareholder
approval is expected to be sought at the Company's next annual and
special meeting of shareholders, anticipated to be held in November
2024.
Directors and persons discharging managerial
responsibilities ("PDMRs") included in the repricing are detailed
in the table below:
Director/ PDMR
|
Options Subject to Repricing
|
Total Options Held
|
Ian Stalker
|
5,250,000
|
19,250,000
|
Joey Wilkins
|
1,500,000
|
2,500,000
|
Piotr Schabik
|
500,000
|
1,500,000
|
The repricing of the Existing
Options previously issued to insiders of the Company constitutes a
"related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -
Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions
("MI 61-101"). The repricing is exempt from the formal
valuation requirements of Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 pursuant to
subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as no securities of the Company are
listed on certain exchanges specific by MI 61-101. It is also
exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of
Section 5.6 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101
insofar as the fair market value of such repricing is less than 25%
of the Company's market capitalisation (as such term is defined in
MI 61-101).
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES
OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU No. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS PART
OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE
INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH
PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN POSSESSION OF INSIDE
INFORMATION.
For further information please visit
the Company's website: www.braddaheadltd.com.
ENDS
Contact:
Bradda Head Lithium Limited
|
+44
(0) 1624 639 396
|
Ian
Stalker, Executive Chair
Denham Eke, Finance Director
|
|
|
|
Beaumont Cornish (Nomad)
James Biddle / Roland Cornish
|
+44
20 7628 3396
|
|
|
Panmure Liberum (Joint Broker)
|
+44
20 7886 2500
|
Kieron Hodgson / Rauf Munir
|
|
|
|
Shard Capital (Joint Broker)
|
+44
207 186 9927
|
Damon Heath / Isabella Pierre
|
|
|
|
Red
Cloud (North American Broker)
|
+1
416 803 3562
|
Joe
Fars
|
|
|
|
Tavistock (PR)
|
+
44 20 7920 3150
|
Nick Elwes / Josephine Clerkin
|
braddahead@tavistock.co.uk
|
About Bradda Head Lithium Ltd.
Bradda Head Lithium Ltd. is
a North America-focused lithium development group. The Company
currently has interests in a variety of projects, the most advanced
of which are in Central and Western Arizona: The Basin
Project (Basin East Project, and the Basin West Project)
and the Wikieup Project.
The Basin East Project has a
Measured Mineral Resource of 20 Mt at an average grade of
929 ppm Li for a total of 99 kt LCE and an Indicated
Mineral Resource of 122 Mt at an average grade of
860 ppm Li and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 499 Mt at
an average grade of 810 ppm Li for a total of
2.81 Mt LCE. The Group intends to continue to develop its
three phase one projects in Arizona, whilst endeavouring to
unlock value at its other prospective pegmatite and brine assets
in Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. All of Bradda
Head's licences are held on a 100% equity basis and are in close
proximity to the required infrastructure. Bradda Head is
quoted on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange with the
ticker of BHL and on the TSX Venture Exchange with a
ticker of BHLI.
Technical Glossary
Kt
|
Thousand tonnes
|
%
|
Percent
|
Ppm
|
Parts per million
|
Exploration
Target
|
An estimate of the exploration potential of a mineral
deposit in a defined geological setting where the statement or
estimate, quoted as a range of tonnes and a range of grade (or
quality), relates to mineralisation for which there has been
insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource.
|
Inferred Mineral
Resource
|
That part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity
and grade (or quality) are estimated on the basis of limited
geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient
to imply but not verify geological grade (or quality) continuity.
It is based on exploration, sampling and testing information
gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as
outcrops, trenches, pits, workings, and drill holes. An
Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that
applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted
to an Ore Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the
majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to
Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
|
Indicated Mineral
Resource
|
That part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity,
grade (or quality), densities, shape and physical characteristics
are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application
of Modifying Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning
and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and
reliable exploration, sampling and testing gathered through
appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches,
pits, workings, and drill holes, and is sufficient to assume
geological and grade (or quality) continuity between points of
observation where data and samples are gathered.
|
Sn
|
Tin
|
Li2O %
|
Lithium Oxide
|
Cs
|
Cesium
|
Ta2O5
|
Tantalum pentoxide
|
K
|
Potassium
|
Rb
|
Rubidium
|
Forward-Looking Statements
Neither TSX Venture
Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This
News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which
are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements
include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future
plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the
Company or management expects a stated condition or result to
occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms
as "believes", "anticipates", "intends to", "expects", "estimates",
"may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions and address future events and
conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and
uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information
currently available to the Company, the Company provides no
assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations.
Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with
forward-looking information could cause actual events, results,
performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is
not limited to, following: The Company's objectives, goals, or
future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from such forward-looking information include, but are
not limited to: failure to identify mineral resources; failure to
convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; delays in
obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory, governmental,
environmental or other project approvals; political risks; future
operating and capital costs, timelines, permit timelines, the
market and future price of and demand for lithium, and the ongoing
ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the
local levels of government; uncertainties relating to the
availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes
in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates,
fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of
projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from
estimates; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of
COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited
to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital
market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel
and supply chains; and the other risks involved in the mineral
exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in
the Company's public documents filed on SEDARplus. Although the
Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing
the forward-looking information in this news release are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such
information, which only applies as of the date of this news
release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur
in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's
Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated
Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company
on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM
Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock
Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be
responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded
to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation
to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any
matter referred to in it.