Quebec New and Emerging Lithium Exploration District

Nunavik is quickly emerging as the next potential new lithium district. In early 2023, Orford had completed an extensive review of government data including lake sediment surveys, magnetic surveys, geological mapping, and rock sampling databases to identify this new prospective lithium pegmatite district in Nunavik where geochemical results for Lithium pegmatite pathfinders where in the 90th percentile or better for the province.

19 properties covering 455sqkm were mapped staked (100% owned, no royalties) to cover the characteristics which can be associated with lithium bearing spodumene pegmatites, namely, the presence of:

  1. Proximity to favourable tectonic regimes, namely geological boundaries where favourable (spodumene-bearing pegmatitic) rocks may be emplaced;
  2. Mapped pegmatitic bodies in government data;
  3. Geochemical anomalies in grab samples and lake bottom sediments samples which reported values in the 90th percentile or higher for Quebec (MRN Lake Bottom Sediment Database) for elements of interest such as Li, Cs, Rb, Nb and Be1.
  4. Grab samples on these properties reported up to 218 ppm Li, 27 ppm Ta, 67 ppm Cs, and Rb up to 560 ppm (Figure 2 & Figure 3)

Orford Mining was already exploring in Nunavik for critical minerals and gold and has a significant logistical and strategic, first mover advantage. Orford was the first group to stake specifically for lithium in the region and we believe we have acquired the most prospective land package. All the Nunavik Lithium Properties are within approximately 100km from the Deception Bay all season – deep water port, with some properties within 10km.

Figure 1: Plan Map of Orford Mining’s Nunavik Region Critical Metals Exploration Properties.

Nunavik Region Critical Metals Exploration

LBS = Lake Bottom Sediments survey samples. Note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative of mineralized zones. The MRN Data contained in this release were obtained from Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (“MRN”) and has not been independently verified by a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43- 101.

Figure 2: Map of Orford Mining Nunavik Region Critical Metals North Group of Exploration Properties shown on Regional Geology and Digital Eelevation Model. 

Map of Orford Mining Nunavik Region Critical Metals North Group of Exploration Properties shown on Regional Geology and Digital Eelevation Model

Note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative of mineralized zones.  The MRN Data contained in this release were obtained from Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (“MRN”) and has not been independently verified by a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43- 101

Figure 3: Plan Map of Orford Mining Nunavik Region Critical Metals South Group of Exploration Properties Regional Geology and DEM.  

Map of Orford Mining Nunavik Region Critical Metals South Group of Exploration Properties

Note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative of mineralized zones.  The MRN Data contained in this release were obtained from Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (“MRN”) and has not been independently verified by a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43- 101

James Bay Region

The Orford Nunavik Lithium properties display geochemical (lake bottom sediments) anomalies for lithium and pathfinder elements similar in magnitus to other known lithium districts, such as the James Bay Region of Northern Quebec. Orford Mining’s Nunavik Lithium properties have never been explored for lithium despite showing very anomalous geochemistry in grab samples in government mapping data and lake bottom sediments. Orford will undertake its first lithium-specific exploration programs in 2023.

Figure 4:
Left Image: Heat Map of the James Bay Area for Lithium from Lake Bottom Sediments around known deposits compared to Right: Nunavik Area Lithium in Lake Bottom Sediments

Heat Map of the James Bay Area for Lithium
1Gouvernment of Québec Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources Naturelles (MERN) General Direction of Géologie Québec SIGEOM https://sigeom.mines.gouv.qc.ca/