First Phosphate Corp. has announced that it has received drilling permits for its Lac à l’Orignal and Bégin-Lamarche properties. The Company is thankful to the local Innu First Nations for their assistance to the Company in obtaining the drilling permits in such a timely fashion. Drilling activities will be carried out by Forage Premières Nations – First Nations Drilling of Mashteuiatsh, Québec and will comprise job training opportunity for aspiring local youth.
The Lac à l’Orignal drilling permit consists of up to 150 holes for a total of up to 25,000 metres (m) of drilling. The drill program will aim at increasing the extent of the known titanium-phosphate-bearing gabbronorite horizon on which an NI 43-101 maiden resource estimate is being finalized. Infill drilling on a 50 m centre will set the stage for a Preliminary Economic Assessment to be conducted for the project.
The drilling permit for the Bégin-Lamarche property allows the Company to start a maiden drilling program consisting of a minimum of 7,600 m across 38 drill holes. The drilling program will have the objective of verifying the continuity at depth of the surface titanium-phosphate occurrence recently discovered, where grab samples assayed at up to 12% TiO2 and 18% P2O5. The samples were collected over a strike length of 1.5 km. The width of the mineralized zone is at least 230 m. A strong magnetic linear anomaly occurs directly over the mineralized area. The program will consist of seven drill hole fences, 200 m apart across the entire width and length of the titanium phosphate occurrence. Once completed, the Company expects to be in a position to prepare an NI 43-101 resource estimate for the property.
“Today’s announcement is an important step in the development of First Phosphate’s six phase development plan for the North American lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery industry,” said First Phosphate President Peter Kent. “Our team is committed to producing battery grade phosphate material through clean and environmentally safe processing methods, for a consistent, ethically sourced supply right here in Quebec, Canada that benefits all of North America and the world.”
First Phosphate’s flagship Lac à l’Orignal property is located approximately 110 km driving-distance north of the City of Saguenay, Quebec’s sixth largest city, which hosts daily flights to Montreal, a skilled industrial workforce, strong local infrastructure, and which is 30 km driving-distance from the deep sea Port of Saguenay.
First Phosphate’s Bégin-Lamarche property is located approximately 90 km driving distance from the deep sea Port of Saguenay. The Company recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Port of Saguenay to secure deep sea access to global markets and a valuable industrial port development footprint. The company is executing on its advanced phosphate materials strategy that it seeks to integrate directly into the supply chains of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America.
First Phosphate will hold open-access local information sessions on the drilling plans on Monday, November 28th in Saguenay City (Hôtel Chicoutimi), on Tuesday, November 29th in the Municipality of Bégin, and on Wednesday, November 30th in the Municipality of Lamarche. Residents and chalet owners from all local municipalities surrounding the Bégin, Lamarche and Lac à l’Orignal areas are invited to attend. Details on exact times and locations of meetings will be provided through local municipal offices. Aspiring local area entrepreneurs, business owners, service/equipment providers and employment seekers are also encouraged to attend and to meet with First Phosphate management.
