Lithium Ionic drills 1.64% Li2O over 13.5m, 2.18% Li2O over 5.8m and 1.95% Li2O over 5.7m at Bandeira, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Rhea-AI Summary

Lithium Ionic Corp. reports additional results from drilling program at the Bandeira Project in Brazil. Multiple intercepts of significant widths and above resource grade demonstrate potential for expansion. Preliminary Economic Assessment showed low-cost mining project with NPV of US$1.6 billion and IRR of 121%.

Positive

• Multiple intercepts of significant widths and above resource grade indicate potential for expansion at the Bandeira Project.
• Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) showed a long-life and low-cost spodumene concentrate mining project at Bandeira.
• Post-tax Net Present Value (NPV) 8% of US$1.6 billion (~C$2.2 billion) and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 121% were reported in the PEA.

Negative

• None.

TORONTO, Nov. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQX: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (“Lithium Ionic” or the “Company”) reports additional results from an ongoing drilling program at the Bandeira Project (“Bandeira”), located in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The Company is rapidly advancing Bandeira, situated within the emerging “Lithium Valley”, where two lithium producers currently operate.

These results form part of a large 50,000-metre drill program underway for H2 2023, which is focused on expanding and upgrading existing mineral resource estimates to support a planned Feasibility Study, as well as grow the known mineralization at other prospective regional targets.

Bandeira Drill Intercept Highlights (See Figure 1):

• 1.64% Li2O over 13.5m, including 2.06% Li2O over 7.8m, as well as 1.78% Li2O over 5.8m (hole ITDD-23-180)
• 1.37% Li2O over 10.4m and 1.65% Li2O over 4.3m (hole ITDD-23-174)
• 2.18% Li2O over 5.8m (hole ITDD-23-177)
• 1.95% Li2O over 5.7m (hole ITDD-23-171)
• 1.50% Li2O over 6.7m (hole ITDD-23-173)
• 3.57% Li2O over 2.4m, 1.54% Li2O over 4.7m and 1.84% Li2O over 3.3m
  (hole ITDD-23-185)
• 1.57% Li2O over 5.0m (hole ITDD-23-176)
• 1.32% Li2O over 5.2m (hole ITDD-23-182)
• 1.69% Li2O over 4.0m and 1.78% Li2O over 3.8m (hole ITDD-23-172)
• 1.46% Li2O over 4.4m (hole ITDD-23-170)

Blake Hylands, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Ionic, commented, "The multiple intercepts of significant widths, and above our resource grade, announced today demonstrates the potential for the mineral resources at Bandeira to quickly keep expanding and improving. We believe this additional infill drill data will support significant resource conversion, ultimately reinforcing and potentially enhancing the excellent results from our PEA.”

The Company began drilling Bandeira in April 2022, reporting an initial mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) in June 2023. In October 2023, an updated MRE at Bandeira showcased a near-doubling of the MRE, which formed the basis of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”). This study supported a long-life and low-cost spodumene concentrate mining project with a post-tax Net Present Value (“NPV”) 8% of US$1.6 billion (~C$2.2 billion) and an Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) of 121% (see press release dated October 19, 2023).

The Company is currently undertaking an independent NI 43-101 compliant Feasibility Study (“FS”), including an updated MRE, expected to be completed in early 2024.

The Bandeira Project is located in the same district where Companhia Brasileira de Litio (CBL)’s Cachoeira mine has been producing lithium for +30 years, and recent producer Sigma Lithium operates the Grota do Cirillo project, which hosts the largest hard rock lithium deposit in the Americas (See Figure 1).

The Company is rapidly advancing Bandeira towards a production decision, while it continues to explore and define regional targets. Permitting activities are progressing well, in parallel with the advancement of project engineering. NEO Agroambiental Ltda is completing the RCA (Environmental Control Report) and PCA (Environmental Control Plan) to support the application of a Concomitant Environmental and Installation License (“LAC”, or Licença Ambiental Concomitante) for the Bandeira operation, which is expected to be submitted by the end of the year. The LAC is an accelerated permitting scenario available to projects such as Bandeira, whose mine infrastructure covers a small footprint where deforestation is not required. The LAC replaces the first two steps of the environmental licensing process: the Preliminary License (LP - Licença Prévia) and the Installation License (LI – Licença de Instalação); which precede the final Operating License (LO - Licença de Operação).

Figure 1. Bandeira Drill Collars and Traces with Intercept Highlights

View Figure 1 here:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d2733cbf-5192-4faf-8734-faf965ffad63

Table 1. Bandeira Drill Results

Hole ID	Az	Dip	From	To	Metres	Li2O (%)
ITDD-23-169	150	-68	241.60	243.89	2.29	1.27
and			359.01	360.46	1.45	2.26
ITDD-23-170	150	-50	101.62	106.04	4.42	1.46
and			123.18	124.66	1.48	1.22
ITDD-23-171	150	-55	51.37	53.69	2.32	1.00
and			222.83	228.56	5.73	1.95
ITDD-23-172	150	-66	136.38	140.13	3.75	1.78
and			180.94	184.94	4.00	1.69
and			317.72	320.13	2.41	2.05
and			368.65	371.88	3.23	1.43
ITDD-23-173	0	-90	122.48	129.13	6.65	1.50
ITDD-23-174	150	-54	55.70	57.78	2.08	0.74
and			211.36	221.72	10.36	1.37
and			342.54	346.82	4.28	1.65
ITDD-23-176	150	-80	56.11	57.66	1.55	1.54
and			60.09	61.88	1.79	1.24
and			230.14	235.14	5.00	1.57
ITDD-23-177	150	-85	110.89	113.89	3.00	1.12
and			204.16	209.98	5.82	2.18
and			354.96	359.59	4.63	1.23
ITDD-23-178	150	-50	171.00	173.18	2.18	0.67
ITDD-23-180	150	-85	171.59	177.38	5.79	1.78
and			265.35	269.35	4.00	1.43
and			387.85	401.35	13.50	1.64
incl.			393.51	401.35	7.84	2.06
ITDD-23-181	150	-73	203.14	205.32	2.18	1.26
and			223.00	229.00	6.00	1.02
ITDD-23-182	150	-55	201.09	202.74	1.65	1.21
and			226.06	231.25	5.19	1.32
ITDD-23-185	150	-87	240.77	244.06	3.29	1.84
and			360.36	365.03	4.67	1.54
and			417.41	419.50	2.09	1.16
and			434.34	437.34	3.00	1.22
and			443.78	447.25	3.47	1.10
and			529.52	531.92	2.40	3.57
and			567.15	569.57	2.42	2.00
ITDD-23-187	150	-83	196.58	198.86	2.28	1.85
ITDD-23-189	330	-62	70.07	71.93	1.86	1.25

^{*Assays pending for holes ITDD-23-175, ITDD-23-179, ITDD-23-183, ITDD-23-184, ITDD-23-186 and ITDD-23-188.}

About Lithium Ionic Corp.

Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its Itinga and Salinas group of properties cover 14,182 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. Its Feasibility-stage Bandeira Project is situated in the same region as CBL’s Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.’s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas.

Quality Assurance and Control

During the drill program, assay samples were taken from NQ core and sawed in half. One-half was sent for assaying at SGS Laboratory, a certified independent commercial laboratory, and the other half was retained for results, cross checks, and future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples. Every sample was processed with Drying, crushing from 75% to 3 mm, homogenization, quartering in Jones, spraying 250 to 300 g of sample in steel mill 95% to 150. SGS laboratory carried out multi-element analysis for ICP90A analysis.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in this news release has been prepared by Carlos Costa, Vice President Exploration of Lithium Ionic and Blake Hylands, CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, and both are “qualified persons” as defined in NI 43-101.

Investor and Media Inquiries:

+1 647.316.2500
info@lithiumionic.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-statements.” Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words “estimate”, “project”, “belief”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “may” or “should” and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity of the Company’s mineral properties, the economic viability of the Bandeira, the mineralization and development of the Company’s mineral properties, the Company’s exploration program and other mining projects and prospects thereof, the Company’s ability to complete a Feasibility Study, the Company’s ability to complete an environmental impact assessment and obtain the requisite permitting and approvals and the Company’s future plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

FAQ

What are the latest results from Lithium Ionic's drilling program at the Bandeira Project?

The latest results from the drilling program at the Bandeira Project show multiple intercepts of significant widths and above resource grade, indicating the potential for expansion.

What did the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) reveal about the Bandeira Project?

The PEA showed that the Bandeira Project is a long-life and low-cost spodumene concentrate mining project. It reported a post-tax Net Present Value (NPV) 8% of US$1.6 billion (~C$2.2 billion) and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 121%.

What is the significance of the reported NPV and IRR in the PEA?

The reported post-tax Net Present Value (NPV) 8% of US$1.6 billion (~C$2.2 billion) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 121% indicate the potential profitability and financial viability of the Bandeira Project.