Grant: Alliance Grants

Lithium is essential to global carbon-free energy technology, auto manufacturing, and technology industries and is prioritized in the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy for its potential to drive Canadian economic growth. Recent lithium discoveries in southern Newfoundland have stimulated new exploration efforts. However, fundamental aspects of the geology of these lithium resources remain unknown, including their mineralogy, age(s), extent, structural controls, lithium sources, and economic potential. Our main research objective is to better understand the geological controls on the formation of lithium-rich rock bodies in southern Newfoundland to better inform mining and exploration targeting practices and promote lithium discovery. Addressing this primary objective requires a multidisciplinary and holistic investigation into (i) the processes controlling the transport of lithium from its source to host rocks, (ii) the magmatic emplacement processes that resulted in the formation of the lithium-rich rocks, (iii) the lithium source(s), (iv) structure and deformation that controls the present expression of lithium-rich rocks, and (v) the character and extent of associated metamorphic aureoles. This collaborative endeavor includes an academic alliance between StFX University and Memorial University of Newfoundland, three partner organizations in industry, and the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Partners will contribute access to samples and field sites, resources, and expertise related to regional geology and bedrock lithium mineralization. We aim to advance exploration efficiency and effectiveness with new geological models through targeted research on the lithium mineralizing systems with complementary studies on the origins and migration of mineralizing-fluids, mineral chemistry, regional stratigraphic evolution, regional deformation, and Appalachian plate tectonic models. This project will train several highly qualified personnel in field methods, data collection techniques, and scientific communication - highly sought after skills required for qualified geoscientists to have capacity to undertake mineral exploration and geoscience research on critical mineral systems in Canada.