Thanks Marty for the information! You must have been able to get into Morgan, by truck, so the property may be accessable for drilling during the Summer. Unless, you were just doing, some ice fishing on the lake!
Anyway, it's good to know that Formost has done a spodumene sample which produced a grade of almost 6% lithium oxide. There are some minor iron impurities contained in the residue from the preliminary processing but most can be removed by secondary processing.
Sounds very promising!
Rockcliff would have to do similiar field work including using sledge hammers and chisels to gather some spodumene-mineralized pegmatite. But it would be good physical exercise for Rockcliff's field crew. It's important to keep them in shape!
They are going to need to do a lot more work, out in the woods and very soon!
There may be a lot of such preliminary work to in the future. It's a good thing that Ken is the boss and doen't need to assist in the field study unless he intends to stand by, watch and enjoy the fun!
"...Jason Barnard, Foremost's President and CEO, comments, "I'm extremely pleased that the first phase of our bulk sample program demonstrated such positive results. This project has been our company's focus for some months as we recognized the significance of favourable results. Our goal for this project is to be able to market our lithium while still in the ground directly to battery suppliers and vehicle manufactures. We are well on our way to reaching our objective." In June of 2022, after the receipt of a bulk sample permit from the Manitoba government, a field crew collected 489 kg of spodumene-mineralized pegmatite using sledgehammers and chisels from trenches exposing Dyke 1 on Foremost's Zoro lithium property. Twenty-six pails of spodumene-mineralized pegmatite were shipped to SGS Lakefield. After sample preparation, testwork on this Master Composite sample included heavy liquid separation (HLS), dense media separation (DMS), and dry magnetic separation. The metallurgical target of the testwork was the production of a spodumene concentrate containing >6% Li2O and <1% Fe2O3, while maximizing lithium recovery. Dr. Sunil Koppalkar of XPS Expert Process Solutions, A Glencore Company, oversaw the metallurgical work on behalf of Foremost Lithium Resources & Technology Ltd..."
"...The bulk sample was processed on a DMS pilot plant at SGS Lakefield. The bulk sample produced a final spodumene concentrate assaying 5.93% Li2O, at a global lithium recovery of 66.9% in 26.5% mass after magnetic separation. The iron content in the spodumene concentrate assayed 1.23% Fe2O3, slightly higher than the 1% Fe2O3 targeted, but is acceptable for subsequent hydrometallurgical processing..."
https://foremostlithium.com/news/2022/372-oremostithiumeceivesositivereliminaryesultsfrom20221207.html
Too many impurities are unacceptable for a suitable lithium concentrate, so Rockcliff would have to a similar analysis, wherever they found a suitably large spodumene dyke to assess.
Foremost's spodumene contained iron as an impurity but in an acceptable amount. Perhaps, Rockcliff might find a similar, iron containing, ore body to examine. But that would be for them to determine.
I am not certain as to how valuable to the company the discovery of potential gemstones would be. And how would such gemstones be retrieved from the ore body for potential study, without their absolute destruction?
It sounds like such a mining operation might be a tedious and expensive operation. But unique and colorful genuine gemstones that are found fully intact, could fetch a handsome profit! Some are really incredibly valuable and could finance a drilling program on their own! LOL
Maybe some of the younger Snow Lake citizens would like to take part in a 'boulder smashing party', with a barbeque held at the end of the day. Refreshments would have to be served! A 'lot of beer' would be needed to quench their thirst, after a hard day of work in the field!
I hope that Ken has good luck at the PDAC conference. He probably enjoys hobnobbing with the elite of the industry! Old friends need to keep in touch and share their struggles to keep alive in the exploration space. Their own jobs and the investment of their shareholder base depend upon their success at this very essential game!
Anyway, let's see if there is any further interest in Rockcliff shares, next week!
Foremost Lithium is trading at 22 cents and rising!
Everyone is keen on the lithium space!
Rockcliff the beginner is just entering the field! These are still early days, for us!
Rockcliff may have to change it's name to Rockcliff Metals and Gemstones. The local Snow Lake gift shop could sell a few of the lessor gems!
Cutting and polishing shiny gemstones could be another good employment opportunity for some of the Snow Lake residents, who might want to help diversify, their local economy!
All money matters!
And not everyone, may want to work in a mine!
All the best! Java