Nemaska Exploration's Whabouchi spodumene
pegmatite, located in the James Bay Region near
Nemaska, Quebec, is presently the third largest of
its kind among active projects in the world and,
with an average content of 1.64% Li2O is second
only to Talison's Greenbushes, Australia deposit
in grade. A program of geological mapping, a
magnetometer survey, trenching, and two phases of
drilling in 2009 10, totalling 12,275 metres
delineated a steeply-dipping main dyke over 1400m
long, and up to 90m thick, and a series of rich
secondary dykes closely flanking the main dyke on
the south side.
An NI 43-101 study by SGS Geostat' group dated
July 14, 2010,estimated measured resources of
1,885,000, indicated resources of 7,889,000 and
inferred resources of 15,396,000 from the first
drilling and trenching program. Reserves and
resources categories are in the process of being
upgraded to a bankable feasibility level based on
results from the second phase of trenching and
drilling (2,779m of trenching and about 9,000m of
HQ diamond drilling) started in November 2010 and
completed in March 2011. Bench-scale metallurgical
studies completed by SGS Lakefield in October 2010
were successful in producing a good quality
spodumene concentrate with 79% lithium recovery. A
lithium carbonate grade of 99.96% and meeting all
trace element specifications for battery grade was
achieved in hydrometallurgical processing of this
concentrate. A first open pit design was completed
by BBA Inc. in December 2010 and an NI 43-101
scoping study (Technical and Economic Assessment)
completed in January 2010 by Equapolar Consultants
Limited, concluded that a million tonne-a-year
mining project was economically robust.
Metallurgical optimization was completed in spring
2010 and a pilot plant program was begun as part
of a bankable feasibility study to be completed by
October 2011. The company anticipates mine and
plant start-up for Q4 of 2011.
