VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGX Minerals Inc. (“MGX” or the “Company”) (CSE: XMG / OTCQB: MGXMF / FSE: 1MG) is pleased to announce that joint-venture partner Power Metals Corp. (TSX.V: PWM) (“Power Metals”) has reported that assays have confirmed the presence of high grade Lithium (Li) and Tantalum (Ta) mineralization on Gullwing-Tot Lakes Property located 30 km northeast of Dryden, Ontario. Gullwing Lake pegmatite and Tot Lake pegmatite are located 6.3 km apart and are hosted by the same mafic metavolcanics unit.
The assay highlights from grab samples from Tot Lake pegmatite include:
- 4.58 % Li2O from quartz – spodumene core, sample 159056 (Figure 1)
- 2.62 % Li2O from quartz – spodumene core, sample 159057
- 1.68 % Li2O and 233 ppm Ta from pink spodumene pegmatite zone, sample 1590235
- 498 ppm Ta from albitized K-feldspar zone, sample 159238 (Figure 2)
The assay highlights from grab samples on the Gullwing North outcrop include:
- 6.78 % Li2O from pure spodumene sample, sample 159082 (Figure 3)
- 0.73 % Li2O from spodumene – albite – quartz sample, sample 159084
- 759 ppm Ta from large Ta-oxide crystals in albite unit, sample 159254 (Figure 4)
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4ac51e8e-05a8-43fc-8072-df59d1c8f39b
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e026e21-6650-44b5-80d2-1211b42443e0
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15c4e162-2b26-4ba7-8490-413d99044bf7
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3de2212-94de-41fb-8e9f-d19906d26088
Location map for Gullwing and Tot Lakes pegmatites is given in Figure 5 and tables of assays and UTM coordinates are given in Tables 1 and 2.
Mapping on Tot Lake pegmatite revealed eye-popping lithium and tantalum mineralization with pale green megacrystic spodumene blades up to 75 cm long and 15 cm wide identified next to megacrystic K-feldspar crystals in historical trench 3 (Power Metals Corp, press release dated July 11, 2018). The Ta-oxide crystals are up to 1 by 2 cm in size and are some of the largest Ta-oxide crystals in pegmatites in the province of Ontario. Typically, Ta-oxide minerals are 1 to 2 mm in size. In addition to lithium and tantalum mineralization, the cesium mineralization is also impressive at Tot Lake. Pollucite (Cs ore mineral) at Tot Lake is concentrated in a 1 by 5 m pod near the southwestern end of the pegmatite dyke where it comprises 32 vol% of the pod (Breaks et al., 2014). Pollucite is rare in nature and is only known at four other pegmatite localities in Ontario (Breaks et al., 2014). Pollucite is an indicator mineral for extreme chemical fractionation.
Table 1. High grade Li assays for grab samples from Gullwing and Tot Lakes pegmatites, UTM NAD 83, Zone 15.
| Sample No. | Station | Easting (m) | Northing (m) | Elevation (m) | Lithology | Ta (ppm) | Li2O (%) | Pegmatite |
| 159082 | JK-18-157 | 532777 | 5529476 | 397 | Pegmatite | 7.2 | 6.78 | Gullwing North |
| 159056 | JK-18-126 | 538935 | 5530873 | 287 | Pegmatite | 27.8 | 4.58 | Tot Lake |
| 159057 | JK-18-126 | 538935 | 5530872 | 287 | Pegmatite | 78 | 2.62 | Tot Lake |
| 159235 | AV-18-075 | 538930 | 5530873 | 397 | Pegmatite | 233 | 1.68 | Tot Lake |
| 159059 | JK-18-126 | 538934 | 5530872 | 396 | Ultramafic Volcanic | 18.2 | 0.757 | Tot Lake |
| 159084 | JK-18-158b | 532777 | 5529480 | 393 | Pegmatite | 40.6 | 0.733 | Gullwing North |
| 159058 | JK-18-127 | 538936 | 5530878 | 392 | Pegmatite | 9.2 | 0.551 | Tot Lake |
| 159241 | AV-18-080 | 538932 | 5530877 | 400 | Pegmatite | 40 | 0.512 | Tot Lake |
| Sample 159059 represents the metasomatized ultramafic host rock next to spodumene-rich pegmatite. | ||||||||
Table 2. High grade Ta assays for grab samples from Gullwing and Tot Lakes pegmatites, UTM NAD 83, Zone 15.
| Sample No. | Station | Easting (m) | Northing (m) | Elevation (m) | Lithology | Ta (ppm) | Li2O (%) | Pegmatite |
| 159254 | AV-18-104 | 532783 | 5529473 | 401 | Pegmatite | 759 | 0.007 | Gullwing North |
| 159238 | AV-18-078 | 538918 | 5530897 | 399 | Pegmatite | 498 | 0.019 | Tot Lake (north) |
| 159235 | AV-18-075 | 538930 | 5530873 | 397 | Pegmatite | 233 | 1.68 | Tot Lake |
| 159237 | AV-18-077 | 538916 | 5530888 | 401 | Pegmatite | 227 | 0.342 | Tot Lake |
| 159239 | AV-18-079 | 538933 | 5530876 | 397 | Pegmatite | 208 | 0.004 | Tot Lake |
| 159262 | AV-18-111 | 532774 | 5529386 | 413 | Pegmatite | 150 | 0.013 | Central Gullwing |
| 159236 | AV-18-076 | 538935 | 5530874 | 395 | Pegmatite | 101 | 0.061 | Tot Lake |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/305d77af-706a-42a5-bba5-197d9c29b219
Quality Control
The grab samples were shipped to SGS analytical lab in Lakefield, Ontario by Manitoulin Transport. SGS analytical lab in Lakefield has ISO 17025 certification. Every 20 samples included one external quartz blank and one external lithium standard. The ore grade Li2O% was prepared by sodium peroxide fusion with analysis by ICP-OES with a detection limit of 0.002 % Li2O. A QA/QC review of the standards and blanks for this mapping program indicate that they passed and the assays are accurate and not contaminated.
Gullwing-Tot Lakes
Gullwing-Tot Lakes Property is located in Drope and Webb townships, 30 km northeast of Dryden, NW Ontario with excellent road access. Gullwing and Tot Lakes pegmatites contain spodumene. The Property was optioned from Exiro Minerals Corp. in 2017 (Power Metals press release dated April 20, 2017). The Property is located 5.5 km northeast of the Mavis Lake spodumene pegmatite field.
Terms of the Joint-Venture
MGX currently has a paid 20% working interest in five lithium hard rock properties in Ontario controlled by Power Metals Inc as well as any additional properties acquired by Power Metals prior to August 2020. MGX also maintains the right to acquire an additional 15% working interest, for a total of 35%, in each of the hard rock lithium properties by making a one-time payment of $10M prior to August 2020. MGX currently holds an option to acquire 10,000,000 shares of Power Metals at $0.65 (see press release dated August 2, 2017).
Qualified Person
Andris Kikauka (P. Geo.), Vice President of Exploration for MGX Minerals, has prepared, reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards.
About MGX Minerals
MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource company with interests in advanced material and energy assets throughout North America. Learn more at www.mgxminerals.com.
Contact Information
Jared Lazerson
President and CEO
Telephone: 1.604.681.7735
Web: www.mgxminerals.com
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Forward-Looking Statements
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