VIOR INC. (VIO-V) Vior stakes lithium exploration corridor and expands the Belleterre Project, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec
On February 14, 2023, Vior reported that after having completed an extensive regional reconnaissance exploration review in and around its flagship Belleterre Gold Project, it has identified multiple high potential targets for lithium bearing pegmatites. Recall the Belleterre Project is located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of western Québec. Vior has completed an aggressive map staking of 466 additional claims in the Belleterre area, covering over 26,820ha and has secured acreage that might contain high potential lithium-bearing pegmatites as well as other strategic metals, including nickel (“Ni”) and platinum group elements (“PGE”). The Belleterre Project now consists of 1,017 claims over an area of >57,220 ha, forming a district-scale exploration package that has historically been under-explored per compartmentalization of claims. The overall property has been little explored for the lithium potential, and only limited previous work has been dedicated to Ni, PGE magmatic mineralization and other critical metals.
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Sayona Tansim Lithium Project: Although chiefly known for its historic high-grade gold production, the Belleterre region is also recognized for its lithium endowment with economic grades and quantities discovered and delineated at the advanced Sayona Mining Ltd (SYA-ASX) Tansim Lithium Project, located ~20km north of Vior’s Belleterre Project. ??Sayona’s Tansim Lithium Project is composed of 355 mineral claims spanning 20,546ha and is located ~110km SW of the Sayona’s flagship, North American Lithium (NAL) operation (see: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/sayona-mining-limited-sya-asx-doubles-qu%C3%A9bec-lithium-base-lemieux/). The Tansim project is part of Sayona’s Abitibi Hub strategy and significant drill intercepts up to 12.35m @ 1.29% Li2O and 43.7m @ 0.82% Li2O (including 16.1m @ 1.26% Li2O) have been encountered on the Viau-Dallaire prospect. Mineralisation is hosted within spodumene-bearing pegmatite intrusions striking E-W, dipping to the north and hosted by metasedimentary–metavolcanic rocks of the Pontiac sub-province. Sayona is focused on ensuring the project generates maximum benefits for all local stakeholders, including First Nations (Winneway Community), together with minimising any environmental impacts.
Astute land positioning: Vior expanded its land position to the East and South of the original Belleterre Project in order to cover a prospective lithium-bearing corridor that is in close proximity to fertile S-type magmatic units. The Vior team has identified a +80km prospective lithium corridor that extends south of Sayona’s Tansim deposit and into the Belleterre district. This followed analysis of publicly available geophysics and surface geochemical data. The corridor was delineated through the analysis of pathfinder elements’ anomalies from stream and lake bottom sediments and the classification of a prospective kilometric lithium-cesium-tantalum (Li-Cs-Ta) type pegmatite dyke swarm to the south of the Belleterre property. The main target is spodumene (LiAl(SiO3)2) mineralisation, which has not been historically recognized or really explored for.
This new lithium exploration potential follows an emerging SW and western trend in the Pontiac generated by Brunswick Exploration (BRW-V) in early March 2022, with the launching of a major, long-term, grassroots lithium exploration program in Québec. This with the initial staking of several prospective claim blocks throughout the southern Abitibi (Pontiac region) of Québec totalling of 618 claims (35,440 ha), separated into 12 blocks (“Pontiac Lithium Project”) (see: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/eric-lemieux-9468715_quebec-pontiac-lithium-activity-6905348293053018112-8CV6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop). ?Brunswick reported on January 4, 2023 that following prospecting of 14 claim blocks in the Pontiac in 2022, that no LCT pegmatites were uncovered except south of Rouyn-Noranda at the Kinojevis project (see: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/brunswick-exploration-inc-brw-v-provides-2022-lithium-eric-lemieux/), hence in the western the Pontiac sub-province.
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Very well located: The past gold production at the Belleterre gold mine (see: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/vior-inc-vio-v-belleterre-project-set-advance-new-solid-eric-lemieux/), the highly prospective future gold targets generated by Vior, as well as the advanced lithium project at Tansim are likely testament to the exploration potential of the area. The Belleterre Project benefits from an advantageous location within the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region. It has competitive exploration costs and exceptional access to key resources as well as a mining tradition. Within close proximity to the major mining towns of Québec, Rouyn-Noranda and Val d’Or, this provides for comprehensive mining infrastructure and expertise. The Belleterre area has extensive road network and access to power, as well as an available and skilled workforce. Vior holds a dominant land position in the area and controls a highly prospective multi-commodity exploration project that should be able to advance quickly, well keeping well-informed the First Nations Community of Winneway. ?Fieldwork is expected to commence in early Spring of 2023.
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Mark Fedosiewich, President and CEO of VIOR, stated: “This is an exciting time for Vior. While finalizing the regional data compilation at our flagship Belleterre Gold Project, the Vior team identified multiple high-potential targets for lithium-bearing pegmatites. This staking of additional claims further expands and consolidates our land package at Belleterre, and helps to secure multiple gold and lithium targets across what has truly become a district-scale opportunity. It is clear that there is an urgent need for a secure and sustainable access to critical and strategic metals in North America, and this timely opportunity provides additional upside exposure for Vior’s shareholders, while remaining committed to our core focus of making a new gold discovery in the historic Belleterre mining camp”.
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Important Disclosures
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Vior Inc. ?????????????????????????????????????????????
D????????????The Mining Analyst, in his own account or in a family related account, owns securities in excess of 50,000 shares of the issued and outstanding equity securities of this issuer.
V????????????The Mining Analyst has visited certain material operations of this issuer, namely the Belleterre project in July 2021 and the Foothills project in 2016.
R????????????This issuer has indirectly paid the Mining Analyst
UPDATE - March 5, 2023:
Vior releases new geological model at its flagship Belleterre Gold Project, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec
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On March 3, 2023, Vior reported preliminary results following a global data compilation program at its flagship high-grade Belleterre Gold project located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of NW Québec. Vior has identified further extensions to known gold zones and new high-potential structures based on a more comprehensive understanding of the geology and the structural continuities of the area. The Belleterre Project covers over of 57,220ha (1,017 claims) and forms a district-scale exploration package. ?
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New Belleterre geological model: In conjunction with 2022 field exploration and validation programs, Vior launched an important global data compilation and digitization program for all historical exploration activities at Belleterre dating back to 1936. The objective was to identify and prioritize the next high-potential drill targets in the Belleterre gold camp. Since consolidation of the Belleterre Project, Vior has reconfirmed and expanded the strong gold potential through a systematic exploration approach, which includes: a high-definition magnetic geophysical survey with magnetic inversion, several field exploration programs, and 2 scout drill validation programs.
From these initial exploration programs, Vior has demonstrated:
- a significant high-grade gold footprint at surface that extends >12km in length;
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- a vertical continuity at depth of known high-grade gold structures outcropping at surface, with wider and more intense deformation, and a well-distributed gold mineralization; and
- the recognition of multiple new multi-kilometer gold structures that were not previously recognized, thus introducing a potential for additional new gold discoveries in the Belleterre camp.
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Mark Fedosiewich, President and CEO of Vior, stated: “Our global data compilation effort is well advanced, and we are extremely pleased with the initial results. Based on structural interpretation, surface mapping and the known gold distribution on the project, these results have helped to redefine the geological framework and understanding of the area. Further, the geochemistry interpretation and the digitization of over a thousand historic drill holes will be fully integrated into Vior’s comprehensive database. This has strengthened the preliminary interpretation and lays the foundation for our next high-priority exploration targets”.
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James Bay:
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UPDATE - May 2, 2023:
VIOR options its Lake Mirabelli Lithium Project to Stria Lithium
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On May 2, 2023, Vior announced that it has executed a definitive agreement with Stria Lithium Inc. (SRA-V) for its Lake Mirabelli Lithium property package (‘Mirabelli Property), located ~300 km north of Matagami, in the Eeyou Istchee - James Bay region of NW Québec. The Mirabelli Property consists of 49 claims (2,609 ha), adjacent to claims owned by Brunswick Exploration Inc. (see https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/brunswick-exploration-inc-brw-v-provides-2022-lithium-eric-lemieux/ & https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/brunswick-exploration-inc-brw-v-expands-lithium-district-eric-lemieux/) and Li-FT Power Ltd ?(see: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/eric-lemieux-9468715_quebec-jamesbay-lithium-activity-7052049245150838786-Bk6v?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop). ?
The Lake Mirabelli Lithium project is also proximal to Patriot Battery Metals (previously Gaia’s Metals) Pontax Property (https://patriotbatterymetals.com/portfolio/additional-strategic-properties/) and the Stria Lithium’s , the acquiror, Pontax Lithium project (https://strialithium.com/). ?
Recall Vior had reported on September 23, 2020, the acquisition of a 100%-interest in claims in the Lake Mirabelli area (see: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9-dexploration-mini%C3%A8re-vior-inc-vio-v-first-foray-eric-lemieux/?published=t). The Mirabelli project consisted initially of the North and the South blocks covering an area of 7,560 ha (142 claims), located near the James Bay Road (Route de la Baie James).
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Monetizing a non-strategic priority asset: The definitive agreement with Stria outlines the final terms and conditions between parties; providing Stria with the right to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the Mirabelli Property. The agreement gives Stria the option to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the Mirabelli Property over a 14-month period by: i) completing before September 21, 2023, a minimum aggregate amount of exploration expenditures of at least $42,000, and filing all required assessment work reports; ii) completing cash payments to Vior totalling $175,000 over a 14-month period; and iii) completing share payments to Vior totalling 950,000 shares over a 14-month period.
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Vior is maintaining a focused portfolio of projects: Vior’ s corporate strategy remains to generate, explore, and develop high quality projects in proven and favourable mining jurisdictions of North America. Through the years, Vior’s management and technical team have shown a certain ability to discover or generate several high-quality mineral prospects in Québec. Vior is presently advancing 3 district-scale projects notably the flagship Belleterre Gold Project, the Belleterre Lithium Project and its Skyfall Nickel project (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/vior-inc-vio-v-signs-loi-soquem-advance-its-skyfall-nickel-lemieux/). Recall that Vior also holds a strategic investment in Ridgeline Minerals Corp.?(RDG-V) (non-diluted equity interest of <4%), Ridgeline holds a 19,200 ha quality exploration portfolio across 6 projects in Nevada and Idaho, USA. (see: https://www.ridgelineminerals.com/).
Mark Fedosiewich, President and CEO of Vior, stated: “We are very pleased to announce this?Agreement with a quality partner like Stria who will ensure that the Property remains in good standing and that it receives the attention that it deserves to uncover its lithium potential. The Property was a non-strategic asset for Vior that had been dormant for several years, and now Vior shareholders have the opportunity to participate in its upside potential by having Stria advance it”.
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