Electra Battery Materials Corporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V:
ELBM) (“
Electra” or the
“
Company”) is pleased to provide an update on its
exploration efforts at the CAS Property in the Idaho Cobalt Belt,
U.S.A. Recent and historical data from CAS highlight high-grade
gold values over significant intervals and underscore the growing
importance of the CAS Property to Electra’s Idaho exploration
strategy.
With gold trading near its all-time high and a
strong long-term outlook, the presence of high-grade gold
mineralization at CAS adds further strategic value to Electra’s
Idaho holdings. Between 2003 and 2006, over 2,600m of drilling was
conducted over on the CAS Property, identifying significant gold
values. Copper-rich massive sulfide boulders were also discovered
nearby, but despite previous exploration the bedrock source of this
style of mineralization has not been found. The most notable
highlights from previous drilling include:
- IC03-02 6.2m from 77.4m at 8.3 g/t
Au and 0.51% Co
- IC03-03 1.5m from 72.8m at 8.5g/t
Au and 0.54% Co
- IC03-04 4.6m from 128.0m at 8.3g/t
Au and 0.34% Co
- IC03-07 3.0m from 41.1m at 9.2g/t
Au and 0.08% Co
"Electra remains committed to securing a stable
and sustainable supply of critical minerals needed to strengthen
the resiliency of domestic supply chains," said Electra CEO, Trent
Mell. "Domestic sources of cobalt and copper are essential for
America’s industrial and military security. The presence of
high-grade gold alongside these critical minerals enhances the
economic potential of our Idaho Cobalt Belt properties, providing
optionality for future funding and development strategies. Adjacent
to our Iron Creek deposit and Ruby property, mineralization on the
CAS Property extends over several kilometers, much of which remains
untested. This represents an exciting opportunity for Electra to
expand its resource base in the U.S. and enhance the potential of
our entire land package."
Electra holds a significant land position in the
Idaho Cobalt Belt, including the Iron Creek deposit and the highly
prospective Ruby target area. The CAS Property option expands this
footprint and opens the door for potential collaboration with
gold-focused explorers.
The Idaho Cobalt Belt is recognized by the U.S.
Geological Survey as the largest undeveloped primary cobalt
resource in the United States and hosts multiple mineral deposits,
some of which were historically mined. Mineralization at the CAS
Property shares similarities with the Black Pine deposit, located
approximately 20 kilometers northwest, and the breccia-style
mineralization at Glencore’s historic Blackbird mine, the largest
cobalt-copper-gold resource in the region.
Figure 1. Location of the Iron Creek
Property in east-central Idaho
Late last year, Electra secured a 10-year
exploration permit for its properties in the Idaho Cobalt Belt,
covering 91 designated drill pad locations and hundreds of
potential drill targets. The Idaho properties consist of mining
patents and exploration claims over an area of 73.15 km2 and cover
the strike extent of strata hosting the cobalt-copper sulfide
mineralization.
The CAS target area is located approximately two
(2) kilometers north of Electra’s Iron Creek Project and hosts
promising mineralization, including several cobalt-gold veins
discovered in the early 1970s. The CAS Property has a technical
report which was filed in 2017.
Figure 2. Bedrock
geology map of Electra’s property
The host rocks at CAS exhibit strong alteration,
with mineralization traced several kilometers beyond the drilled
area, yet systematic follow-up exploration remains limited.
Figure 3. Colour contour map of gridded
gold values for bedrock and float samples covering the CAS
Property
Recent work by Electra has included extensive
bedrock and float geochemical sampling across the property,
aligning well with compiled historical data. These analyses,
conducted by ALS Global, utilized four-acid digestion with ICP-AES
finish, as well as fire assay for gold with ICP-AES and gravimetric
finish for over-range samples. The results highlight multiple
anomalous gold, copper, and cobalt zones beyond the main CAS
Prospect. In places gold, cobalt and copper are anomalous within
the same sample so may reflect a similar style of mineralization as
the massive sulfide boulders found near the CAS Prospect.
Looking ahead, Electra plans further bedrock
mapping, structural evaluation, and resampling of anomalous
mineralized zones. Additional geophysical surveys are under
consideration, as ground-based induced polarity and resistivity
surveys have not been conducted at CAS since the 1970s. These
techniques have previously proven successful at Iron Creek and Ruby
in delineating mineralization for drill targeting.
Electra’s immediate priority is completing the
construction of North America’s first battery-grade cobalt refinery
in Canada, which can enable the development of future cobalt
deposits in Idaho. The Company’s longer-term vision includes
expanding critical mineral refining capabilities within North
America, including battery recycling and nickel production.
Exploration in the Idaho Cobalt Belt supports Electra’s broader
strategy to secure and develop domestic critical minerals
resources, supporting the onshoring of the supply chain for its
refining operations.
The Trump administration first underscored the
strategic importance of securing critical minerals with its 2017
Executive Order 13817, which prioritized identifying and developing
domestic mineral resources. Electra’s exploration in the Idaho
Cobalt Belt aligns with this priority, contributing to the
long-term security of the critical minerals supply chain.
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific technical content of this press
release that relates to mineral exploration has been reviewed and
approved by Dr. Frank Santaguida, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person
as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Santaguida is
employed as Lead Geoscientist by Electra.
About Electra Battery
Materials
Electra is a leader in advancing North America’s
critical minerals supply chain for lithium-ion batteries. Currently
focused on developing North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery,
Electra is executing a phased strategy to onshore critical minerals
refining and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. In addition
to establishing the cobalt sulfate refinery, Electra’s strategy
includes nickel refining and battery recycling. Growth projects
include integrating black mass recycling at its existing refining
complex, evaluating opportunities for cobalt production in
Bécancour, Quebec, and exploring nickel sulfate production
potential in North America. For more information, please visit
www.ElectraBMC.com.
ContactHeather SmilesVice President, Investor
Relations & Corporate Development Electra Battery
Materialsinfo@ElectraBMC.com1.416.900.3891
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of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information (together,
“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable
securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of
historical facts, are forward-looking statements, including
statements in this release about the expected use of the proceeds
from the Financing. Generally, forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of terminology such as “plans”, “expects”,
“estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or variations of
such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results
“may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved”.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, and
involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause
actual results, performance, and opportunities to differ materially
from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Among the
bases for assumptions with respect to the potential for additional
government funding are discussions and indications of support from
government actors based on certain milestones being achieved.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management
discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for
Electra Battery Materials Corporation, filed on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.com and with on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Other factors
that could lead actual results to differ materially include changes
with respect to government or investor expectations or actions as
compared to communicated intentions, and general macroeconomic and
other trends that can affect levels of government or private
investment. Although the Company believes that the information and
assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these
statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release,
and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the
disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by
applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Photos accompanying this announcement are
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