Metalite Resources Inc. provided an update on its lithium exploration activities in Liberia Metalite's portfolio of Liberian assets includes two active reconnaissance licenses and six Reconnaissance Licenses in various stages of renewal/application covering 3,228 km. The licences are located in favourable geologic settings that have the potential to host lithium and rare earth elements (REE) deposits in addition to gold and polymetallic base metal deposits. Prior to its acquisition by Metalite, NextGen had been actively investigating the LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) Pegmatite potential of Liberia.

Desktop studies and a compilation of historical geological, geophysical, and geochemical data was completed. Reconnaissance licence selection was based on the results of this work. Liberia is underlain by rocks of the west African craton and straddles the boundary between the Archean (3260-2850 Ma) and Paleoproterozoic (2150-1800 Ma) basement rocks.

The Archean rocks in central and western Liberia are characterized by gneisses, locally migmatitic, which are infolded with supracrustal greenstone belts of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. In northern Liberia late-Archean granitoids intrude these strata. Eastern Liberia is underlain by Eburnean age tightly folded paragneiss, migmatite and amphibolite interpreted to be part of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian sequence (2200-2100 Ga).

The prominent structural trend throughout most of the country is northeast to east-northeast. Along the coast to the southwest of the Archean basement is a north-northwest trending belt of Archean and Paleoproterozoic age metamorphosed sedimentary and mafic igneous rocks that were deformed during the much younger Pan African orogeny (580 Ma). In comparison with other West African countries, the geology of Liberia is poorly understood and there has been limited recent systematic mineral exploration for most commodities, except gold.

The mining sector in Liberia is currently dominated by iron ore, gold, and artisanal diamond production. Historically, Liberia was a major iron ore producer, exporting 20 million tonnes annually up until 1980; however, the civil war (1992-2003) resulted in the suspension of all mining operations. Iron ore production has since resumed and totalled 5 million metric tonnes from the Tokadeh deposit in 2021.

The most economically significant gold deposits are associated with northeast-trending fault structures in both the Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks. Liberian gold production totalled 252,708 troy ounces from the New Liberty and Kokoya deposits and artisanal sources in 2021. Diamond deposits, primarily exploited via alluvial and artisanal diamond mining, are widespread throughout the country.

Production totalled 63,207 carats in 2021. In 2022, reconnaissance scale soil sampling and prospecting/mapping programs were initiated on five of Metalite's eight reconnaissance licences (granted or pending as set out above). A total of 7,764 soil samples and 137 rock samples were taken during the field program.

All these samples are being analysed using a Niton XL3t 950 GOLDD+ XRF. Although XRF units are not capable of detecting lithium directly they are very effective at analysing for the suite of pathfinder elements commonly associated with LCT Pegmatites (B, Be, Cu, Cs, Hf, K, Nb, Rb, Ta, Sn, W and Zr) as well as gold, REE and polymetallic base metal deposits. After processing these results it is anticipated that selected anomalous samples will be sent to ALS Laboratories for geochemical analysis.

444 soil and 137 rock samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis to date. The results of this work will be reported when all results have been received, and the data sets interpreted. The Nimba North and South reconnaissance licenses which are under application for an extension cover 616 and 562 km2 respectively, in Nimba County north-eastern Liberia.

The bedrock geology consists of leucocratic gneiss to the west and Melanocratic gneiss, quartzite and iron formation units to the east. The contact between the two packages is marked by a northeast-trending fault zone that may be related to the Cestos shear zone located to the south where gold mineralization is known to occur. Numerous coltan (columbite-tantalite) and tin occurrences were documented in the area by the USGS in 1979 and recompiled in 2007.

A total of 5,503 soil samples and 44 rock samples were taken in 2022. Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm on 500 m grid lines at 250 m intervals. Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dikes.

The results of the XRF analyses are pending. The Zorzor reconnaissance license which is under application for an extension covers 430 km2 in Lofa County, northern Liberia. The bedrock geology is dominated by granitic gneiss.

To the northwest there is a large granite intrusion. A total of 1,838 soil samples and 26 rock samples were taken in 2022. Soil samples were taken at a depth of 40 cm on 500 m grid lines at 250 m intervals.

Most of the rock samples were from pegmatite dykes. Potential for LCT pegmatites and REEs within the migmatitic rocks within the granitic gneiss is high, particularly in proximity to the granite intrusion on the north boundary of the licence. Copper mineralization has been documented in the eastern part of the licence area.