Nova Lithium Announces Option to Acquire the Lara VMS Deposit

Rhea-AI Summary

Nova Lithium has entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Lara VMS deposit on Vancouver Island, BC. The Lara Project spans 1,848 hectares and includes historical exploration data from the 1980s. Nova plans to upgrade the historical resource to a current resource, leveraging modern exploration techniques. The acquisition cost totals $250,000, payable in installments, with a 2% net smelter return royalty, reducible to 1% for $2,000,000. Robust metal prices for gold, copper, silver, and zinc make this project promising. Nova will also issue 400,000 shares as a finder's fee for the deal.

Positive

• Entered an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Lara Project.
• Lara Project includes 1,848 hectares with significant historical exploration data.
• Current robust metal prices enhance project potential.
• Option costs of $250,000 are payable in manageable installments.
• Possibility to reduce net smelter return royalty from 2% to 1% for $2,000,000.

Negative

• Historical resource needs upgrading to be classified as current, requiring further investment.
• Obligation to pay a 2% net smelter return royalty upon commercial production.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 20, 2024) - Nova Lithium Corp. ("Nova" or the "Company") (CSE: NVLI) (OTC Pink: NVLIF) (FSE: YQ1 | WKN: A3DMP6) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an option agreement dated June 14, 2024 (the "Option Agreement") with two arm's length vendors to acquire a 100% interest in four mineral claims hosting a significant Polymetallic Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) deposit, known as the "Lara" deposit (the "Lara Project").

The claim package, which is easily accessible year-round, consists of approximately 1,848 hectares and is located approximately 20 km west of Duncan on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Lara Project was the subject of previous exploration activity in the 1980's consisting of 311 historical drill holes totalling more than 55,712 metres, as well as 770 metres of pre-production underground access and drifting. In 2008, Caracle Creek International Consulting completed a historic resource for Treasury Metals Inc. described in an Independent Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimation, Lara Polymetallic Property, April 2008 (Iain Kelso, H.B.Sc., P.Geo., and Stephen Wetherup, B.Sc., P.Geo., co-authors).

The historical estimate was prepared using wireframe models for zinc thresholds, with grade interpolation completed using the inverse power of distance method. The reliability of the historical estimate is considered reasonable, but a qualified person has not completed sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. To upgrade the historical resource to a current resource a constrained mineral estimation should be constructed by a qualified person. Nova intends to use this work to guide further exploration on the Lara Project.

The Lara Project is along strike from the nearby Mount Sicker mine and approximately 150 km southeast of the historical Myra Falls mine, which over a 35 year mine life, has produced more than 800,000 metric tonnes of zinc, lead, and copper ore per year with mineralogy not unlike the Lara deposit (BC Minfile 092-B001).

"The Lara Project is a significant asset and provides an outstanding opportunity for Nova to continue exploration and development from where previous operators left off simply due to deteriorating metal prices encountered in the late 1980's (gold $430/oz, copper $1.50/lb, silver $7/oz, zinc $0.67/lb)," commented J. Malcolm Bell, Nova's CEO. "Today's robust metal prices for gold ($2,300/oz), copper ($4.50/lb), silver ($29/oz) and zinc ($1.28/lb) are breathing new life into mineral deposits such as the Lara and with the many enhancements to the exploration sciences we plan to employ our future looks promising."

Option Agreement

In order to exercise the option, the Company is obligated to pay the vendors an aggregate of $250,000 in cash as follows: $25,000 on or before June 17, 2024 (paid); $50,000 on or before December 1, 2024; $50,000 on or before April 1, 2025; $50,000 on or before August 1, 2025; and $75,000 on or before February 1, 2026.

Upon the Commencement of Commercial Production (as that term is defined in the Option Agreement), the Company is required to pay a royalty to the vendors (the "Royalty") equal to an aggregate of 2% of net smelter returns. Nova may reduce the Royalty at any time from 2% to 1% by paying the sum of $2,000,000 to the vendors, and also has the right to accelerate the exercise of the option by making all the required cash payments in advance of any deadline dates.

In connection with the Option Agreement and subject to the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, Nova intends to pay a finder's fee in the amount of 400,000 common shares of the Company to Dal Brynelsen, who assisted in negotiating the terms of the acquisition.

Qualified Person

Jeremy Hanson, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as that term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release.

About Nova Lithium Corp.

Nova Lithium Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on pursuing projects with a significant discovery and a viable pathway to potential development. The Company intends to focus its near-term efforts on the Lara Project on Vancouver Island and the expansion of known high-grade zones within the already defined mineralized structures.

Additionally, Nova currently owns a 100% interest in 190 mineral claims located in Clayton Valley, Nevada.

For more information, visit www.novalithiumcorp.com.

For further information, please contact:

J. Malcolm Bell, CEO
T: 778.868.2226
E: info@novalithiumcorp.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of metals, historical estimates of mineralization, capital expenditures, the success of exploration activities, permitting timelines, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, the completion of regulatory approvals, and risks arising from the novel coronavirus. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

Any forward-looking information in this news release is based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to, those disclosed in Nova's public filings. While the Company considers these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information for a variety of reasons. Forward-looking information is based upon management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and, other than as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking information to reflect, among other things, new information or future events.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the matters referenced herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/213658

FAQ

What is the Lara VMS deposit option agreement by Nova Lithium about?

Nova Lithium has entered an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Lara VMS deposit on Vancouver Island, BC.

How much will Nova Lithium pay to acquire the Lara VMS deposit?

The acquisition cost is $250,000, payable in installments over a period of time.

What are the historical exploration activities at the Lara Project?

Historical exploration includes 311 drill holes totaling over 55,712 meters and 770 meters of underground access from the 1980s.

What is the royalty structure in the Nova Lithium option agreement for the Lara deposit?

Nova will pay a 2% net smelter return royalty, which can be reduced to 1% by paying $2,000,000.

Why is Nova Lithium interested in the Lara VMS deposit now?

Nova is leveraging current robust metal prices and modern exploration techniques to upgrade the historical resource.