HLM Confirms High-Grade and Continuity of Rare Metals Mineralization with Remaining Holes from Phase I Drilling on the PAK Rare Metals Project, Ontario
Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX.V: HLM):
Highlights:
- Diamond Drill Hole (DDH) PL-13-003 intersected 4.22% Li2O over 18 metre (m) from 36 to 54 m;
- DDH PL-13-005 includes a 19.10 m wide high-grade tantalum zone averaging 236 ppm Ta205 from 125 to 144.1 m;
- The Pakeagama Lake pegmatite, after drilling Phase I, has a 250 m strike length with an estimated width varying from 45 to 125 m assuming sub-vertical orientation of the pegmatite body;
- The pegmatite remains open in all directions (WNW, ESE and at depth), and;
- The rare cesium mineral pollucite commonly occurs as rounded-blebs and small masses ranging in size from 10 to 30 mm within the pegmatite’s central intermediate zone.
Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX.V: HLM), is a mining exploration company that is specialized in rare metals and is actively exploring for lithium (Li), tantalum (Ta), rubidium (Rb) and cesium (Cs) by focusing on its high-grade, 100% owned and optioned 2,816 hectare (6,958 acre) PAK Rare Metals Project in northwestern Ontario, Canada. HLM is pleased to announce the results of remaining five (5) drill holes from the Phase I, six-hole diamond drill program on the Pakeagama Lake pegmatite.
On July 2 2013, HLM reported a 154 m intersection of Li, Ta and Rb mineralization on the first hole drilled this past winter. The additional 5 holes have confirmed continuity of the zones along strike of the intersection and beneath the surface outcrops, and also defined bounding contacts with host rock(s). Table I below summarizes the lithium, cesium, tantalum and rubidium grades for the five drill holes by mineralogical zones for the pegmatite intersections. Also included are the results for DDH PL-13-001 as reported on July 2 complete with the addition of its cesium grades.
Table I – Core Length/Drill-Hole Intercepts (Pakeagama Lake pegmatite) | ||||||||||||||||||||
DDH PL-13-001 | Designed to test extent of pegmatite zonation beneath the enriched UIZ/CIZ | |||||||||||||||||||
Zone | Width | Li2O | Cs2O | Ta2O5 | Nb2O5 | SnO2 | Rb2O | Geology | ||||||||||||
Total Pegmatite | ||||||||||||||||||||
38.0 - 192.55 m | 154.55 | 1.22 | 0.064 | 111 | 64 | 137 | 0.41 | LIZ/UIZ | ||||||||||||
Tantalum, Rubidium and Cesium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
38.5-97.0 m | 58.50 | n/a | 0.073 | 121 | 65 | 175 | 0.55 | WZ+CIZ | ||||||||||||
including | 38.5 - 44.0 m | 5.50 | n/a | 0.061 | 241 | 79 | 258 | 0.26 | WZ | |||||||||||
including | 44.0 - 97.0 m | 53.00 | n/a | 0.075 | 108 | 63 | 166 | 0.58 | ||||||||||||
including | 72.7 - 97.0 m | 24.30 | n/a | 0.059 | 149 | 100 | 125 | 0.54 | CIZ | |||||||||||
including | 76.0 - 82.0 m | 6.00 | n/a | 0.040 | 206 | 142 | 121 | 0.25 | ||||||||||||
Lithium & Rubidium enriched zones: | ||||||||||||||||||||
97.0 - 192.55 m | 95.55 | 1.62 | 0.059 | 105 | 64 | 113 | 0.32 | UIZ+LIZ | ||||||||||||
Lithium enriched zone: | ||||||||||||||||||||
120.0 - 132.0 m | 12.00 | 2.93 | 0.058 | 108 | 50 | 34 | 0.24 | UIZ | ||||||||||||
including | 127.0 - 132.0 m | 5.00 | 4.01 | 0.058 | 131 | 45 | 27 | 0.10 | ||||||||||||
Lithium & Rubidium enriched zones: | ||||||||||||||||||||
120.0 - 192.55 m | 72.55 | 1.96 | 0.054 | 106 | 69 | 128 | 0.33 | LIZ+UIZ | ||||||||||||
including | 132.0 - 192.55m | 60.55 | 1.76 | 0.054 | 106 | 72 | 146 | 0.35 | ||||||||||||
including | 120.0 - 183.0 m | 64.00 | 2.05 | 0.060 | 105 | 66 | 104 | 0.35 | ||||||||||||
including | 120.0 -155.0 m | 35.00 | 2.44 | 0.071 | 105 | 42 | 81 | 0.37 | ||||||||||||
DDH PL-13-002 | Designed to test Cs potential under pollucite-bearing aplite dyke at surface and to define western margin of pegmatite. First of 2 holes along with DDH PL-13-004, drilled to cross-section the pegmatite. Toe of hole was in pegmatite. | |||||||||||||||||||
Zone | Width | Li2O | Cs2O | Ta2O5 | Nb2O5 | SnO2 | Rb2O | Geology | ||||||||||||
Pegmatite/Aplite Dyke near surface (Tantalum enriched) | ||||||||||||||||||||
5.0 - 17.5 m | 12.50 | 0.10 | 0.025 | 132 | 59 | 32 | 0.06 | Pegmatite | ||||||||||||
Rubidium and Tantalum enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
174.0 - 191.0 m | 17.00 | 0.86 | 0.044 | 134 | 95 | 115 | 0.36 | LIZ/Aplite | ||||||||||||
including | 174.0 - 185.0 m | 11.00 | 0.88 | 0.053 | 130 | 82 | 157 | 0.51 | LIZ | |||||||||||
DDH PL-13-003 | Designed to define zonation and to test the economic potential at the WNW extent of the exposed pegmatite in the vicinity of channel cuts 14 to 17. | |||||||||||||||||||
Zone | Width | Li2O | Cs2O | Ta2O5 | Nb2O5 | SnO2 | Rb2O | Geology | ||||||||||||
Total Pegmatite | ||||||||||||||||||||
21.0 - 84.05 m * | 63.05 | 2.53 | 0.044 | 83 | 58 | 66 | 0.22 | WZ/CIZ/LIZ/UIZ | ||||||||||||
Tantalum, Rubidium and Cesium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
including | 21.0 - 32 0 m | 11.00 | n/a | 0.097 | 169 | 75 | 163 | 0.45 | WZ/CIZ/LIZ | |||||||||||
including | 21.0 - 27.0 m | 6.00 | n/a | 0.123 | 209 | 91 | 207 | 0.57 | CIZ/LIZ | |||||||||||
Lithium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
including | 27.0 - 83.0 m | 56.00 | 2.61 | 0.035 | 70 | 53 | 51 | 0.18 | LIZ/UIZ | |||||||||||
including | 36.0 - 54.0 m | 18.00 | 4.22 | 0.040 | 41 | 20 | 21 | 0.06 | UIZ | |||||||||||
including | 54.0 - 84.05 m | 30.05 | 1.67 | 0.026 | 74 | 60 | 59 | 0.23 | LIZ | |||||||||||
* Zone includes 1.8 m of metasediments not sampled but included as dilution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
DDH PL-13-004 | Along with DDH PL-13-002, the hole layout was designed to define the pegmatite zonation and contacts in the central part of the known pegmatite by cross-sectioning the pegmatite. | |||||||||||||||||||
Zone | Width | Li2O | Cs2O | Ta2O5 | Nb2O5 | SnO2 | Rb2O | Geology | ||||||||||||
Total Pegmatite zone including granitic sheets/rafts | ||||||||||||||||||||
14.2 - 130.7 m ** | 115.80 | 0.92 | 0.025 | 56 | 35 | 47 | 0.19 | WZ/UIZ/CIZ/LIZ | ||||||||||||
Lithium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
70.30 91.3m | 21.00 | 2.74 | 0.040 | 85 | 44 | 69 | 0.19 | UIZ/LIZ/WZ | ||||||||||||
including | 70.3 – 85.0 m | 14.70 | 3.43 | 0.035 | 59 | 35 | 65 | 0.16 | UIZ | |||||||||||
Rubidium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
including | 55.0 - 60.55 m | 5.55 | 1.52 | 0.064 | 80 | 47 | 74 | 0.42 | LIZ | |||||||||||
including | 120.0 - 130.7 m | 10.70 | 1.82 | 0.023 | 68 | 60 | 70 | 0.33 | LIZ | |||||||||||
Tantalum and Rubidium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
including | 14.2 - 22.0 m | 7.80 | n/a | 0.072 | 107 | 77 | 84 | 0.73 | CIZ | |||||||||||
including | 30.4 - 39.0 m | 8.60 | n/a | 0.036 | 212 | 131 | 192 | 0.25 | CIZ/Aplite | |||||||||||
** Zone includes 27.25 m of granite not sampled but included as dilution | ||||||||||||||||||||
DDH PL-13-005 | Designed to intersect the metasediment-pegmatite contact from the NNE and to test the extent of the pegmatite towards the granite contact to the SSW | |||||||||||||||||||
Zone | Width | Li2O | Cs2O
| Ta2O5 | Nb2O5 | SnO2 | Rb2O | Geology | ||||||||||||
Total Pegmatite | ||||||||||||||||||||
65.0 - 144.1 m | 79.10 | 1.64 | 0.028 | 116 | 93 | 210 | 0.29 | LIZ/UIZ | ||||||||||||
Lithium plus Tantalum and Rubidium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
including | 65.0 - 119.0 m | 54.00 | 1.79 | 0.025 | 78 | 61 | 100 | 0.33 | LIZ | |||||||||||
including | 119.0 - 125.0 m | 6.00 | 3.57 | 0.035 | 74 | 37 | 29 | 0.18 | UIZ | |||||||||||
including | 125.0 - 144.1 m | 19.10 | 0.60 | 0.034 | 236 | 204 | 577 | 0.20 | LIZ | |||||||||||
DDH PL-13-006 | Designed to test extent of granitic rock/rafts and pegmatite zonations above the pegmatite zone intersected in hole PL-13-001 | |||||||||||||||||||
Zone | Width
| Li2O | Cs2O | Ta2O5 | Nb2O5 | SnO2 | Rb2O | Geology | ||||||||||||
Pegmatites including granite sheets/rafts | ||||||||||||||||||||
48.5 - 52.85 m | 4.35 | 1.80 | 0.048 | 56 | 25 | 42 | 0.22 | Pegmatites /Granite | ||||||||||||
64.0 - 98.75 m | 34.75 | 0.77 | 0.056 | 86 | 53 | 74 | 0.41 | WZ/CIZ/UIZ /Granite | ||||||||||||
Tantalum, Rubidium and Cesium enriched zones | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pegmatite | ||||||||||||||||||||
73.4 - 96.0 m | 22.60 | n/a | 0.064 | 114 | 69 | 96 | 0.53 | WZ/CIZ/LIZ | ||||||||||||
including | 75.0 – 92.0 m | 17.00 | n/a | 0.071 | 124 | 72 | 108 | 0.60 | CIZ | |||||||||||
including | 75.0 – 79.0 m | 4.00 | n/a | 0.096 | 60 | 24 | 65 | 0.88 | CIZ | |||||||||||
including | 78.0 – 86.0 m | 8.00 | n/a | 0.074 | 161 | 99 | 156 | 0.63 | CIZ | |||||||||||
Lithium enriched pegmatite | ||||||||||||||||||||
including | 67.0 - 69.15 m | 2.15 | 3.87 | 0.032 | 79 | 30 | 41 | 0.10 | UIZ | |||||||||||
(1) The intervals in Table I are drill intersection widths. There is currently insufficient data to determine the true thickness of the pegmatite. | ||||||||||||||||||||
n/a = Not applicable |
The Upper Intermediate (UIZ), Central Intermediate (CIZ) and Lower Intermediate Zones (LIZ) were previously described in the July 2, 2013 Press Release. Zones of sodic aplite are present in all holes varying in widths from tens of centimetres to several metres and contain significant concentrations of, Ta, Rb and Cs.
Noteworthy observations are that the NNE boundary with the metasediments is consistent and predictable while the SSW contact with the granite is somewhat erratic and complicated by granitic blocks and rafts and appears to have been variably affected (metasomatized) by the pegmatite intrusion events. The mineralized pegmatite remains open to the WNW, ESE and at depth. Granitic blocks/rafts mapped on surface appear to diminish with depth and along strike in both directions. The cesium mineral pollucite commonly occurs within the CIZ intercepts and less commonly within the LIZ. The mineral is found as rounded-blebs and small masses ranging in size from 10 to 30 mm.
The locations of all holes relative to the channel cuts and surface outcrops are illustrated on Figures I to IV along with 4 sections illustrating the assay zones from Table I (located at http://houstonlakemining.com/images/pdf/Figures_July_30_2013.pdf). The current strike length of the pegmatite as defined by surface mapping and drilling remains at 250 m with an estimated width varying from 45 to 125m assuming sub-vertical orientation of the pegmatite body.
HLM has recently received a sub-metre satellite image of the project area, which will be used as a base map for all subsequent work, first of which will be a sub-centimetre total-station survey which will tie together drill collars to the cut grid located outcrops and channel cuts.
“These results confirmed our resolve that the Pakeagama Lake pegmatite is significant in size with abnormally high grades of lithium and rubidium plus tantalum and potential for cesium. We are pleased to have successfully completed the field work for what was a very exciting Phase I drill program,” said Trevor R. Walker, President of HLM. “These first drill-hole results near-surface from the Pakeagama Lake pegmatite display significant mineralized widths and continuity confirming potential to become a leading high grade, multi-element, large tonnage exploration target for rare metals in North America. Based on these results, a Phase II diamond drill program has been independently recommended to HLM.”
Table II – Collar Locations for Diamond Drill Hole (DDH)
DDHNo | NAD83 (Zone 15N) | Elevation (mASL) | Azimuth | Inclination | Total Depth (m) | ||||||||
Easting | Northing | ||||||||||||
PL-13-001 | 474561 | 5827836 | 329 | 020 | -45 | 213.3 | |||||||
PL-13-002 | 474453 | 5827835 | 331 | 030 | -45 | 191.0 | |||||||
PL-13-003 | 474424 | 5827962 | 332 | 030 | -45 | 104.0 | |||||||
PL-13-004 | 474493 | 5827906 | 330 | 030 | -45 | 167.0 | |||||||
PL-13-005 | 474528 | 5828043 | 306 | 210 | -45 | 161.0 | |||||||
PL-13-006 | 474610 | 5827947 | 325 | 210 | -45 | 119.0 |
Due Diligence
All scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Peter J. Vanstone, P.Geo., the qualified person (QP) under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101. Under HLM’s QA/QC procedures, the diamond drill contract specified NQ-sized drill core providing a 47.6 mm diameter sample. The drill holes were oriented perpendicular to the strike of the pegmatite and drilled continuously across it. Sample security and chain of custody started with the removal of core from the core tube and boxing of drill core at the drill site. The boxed core remained under the custody of the drill contractor until it was transported from the drill to the secure on-site Core Shack facility by either the drill contractor or one of the Company’s designated personnel. At the on-site Core Shack, core boxes were opened and inspected to ensure correct boxing and labelling of the core by the drill contractor, photographed and then re-closed. The core was stored securely until moved into the Core Shack for processing. The company geologists logged the core, and then marked and tagged it for sampling and splitting. Each core sample was assigned a tag with a unique identifying number. Sample lengths are typically one meter, but can be less depending on zone mineralogy and boundaries. The Core was then re-closed and shipped to the company’s off-site core splitting facility in Sudbury, Ontario. Core marked for splitting was cut using a diamond core saw with a mounted jig to assure the core was cut lengthwise into equal halves. Half of the core was sent to an analytical laboratory for quantitative analysis of select elements. The remaining half of the core is retained and incorporated into HLM’s secure, off-site core library.
All samples were assayed by an ISO accredited laboratory. Sample blanks along with tantalum, lithium, rubidium and cesium certified reference material was routinely inserted into the sample stream in accordance with industry recommended practices. Field duplicate samples were also taken in accordance with industry recommended practices.
About Houston Lake Mining Inc.
HLM is a mining exploration company that is specialized in rare metals and is actively exploring for lithium (Li), tantalum (Ta), rubidium (Rb) and cesium (Cs) by focusing on its high grade, 100% owned and optioned PAK Rare Metals Project spanning 2,816 hectares (6,958 acres) in northwestern Ontario, Canada. HLM has a total of 75,236,695 common shares issued and outstanding. For additional information, please visit www.houstonlakemining.com.
Company Contact Information
Trevor R. Walker MBA, President
2736 Belisle Drive
Val Caron, ON.
P3N 1B3 CANADA
T. +001 705.897.7622
F. +001 705.897.7618
Forward-looking Statements
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company’s registered filings what are available at www.sedar.com.
Contact
Houston Lake Mining Inc.
Trevor R. Walker MBA, +001 705.897.7622
President
F. +001 705.897.7618