Critical Resources Positions Mavis Lake to Capture Rising North American Battery Demand - Lithium and Battery Future Story - Great for shareholders.
- Noel Ong
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Announcement
Mavis Lake Strategic Asset for Canada's Lithium Supply Chain 27 November 2025 (click here to view the announcement)
Critical Resources Limited (ASX: CRR) continues to position its Mavis Lake Lithium Project in northwestern Ontario as one of the more advanced hard-rock lithium assets in the region (Figure 1). The Company has expanded its landholding by 25% to more than 400 km², strengthened its geological footprint, and advanced exploration to position the Project as a future supplier to the North American battery supply chain. With more than 58,000 metres drilled since 2022, a maiden JORC Inferred Resource of 8 Mt @ 1.07% Li₂O, and a district-scale exploration pipeline, Mavis Lake is advancing towards scalable development within a Tier-1 jurisdiction.
Figure 1: Mavis Lake Project Location Map (source: CRR).
The Business of Lithium and Battery Future.
Critical Resources is advancing a multi-jurisdictional portfolio anchored by the lithium-focused Mavis Lake Project in Canada. The Company’s broader portfolio in Australia and New Zealand provides exposure to gold, antimony, and base metals, but the strategic focus remains on lithium given its role in global electrification.
Flagship Project: Mavis Lake Lithium Project, Ontario, Canada
Additional Assets: Halls Peak (NSW), gold–antimony prospects in Otago (NZ)
Strategic Direction: Leverage critical minerals expertise to support North America’s emerging battery supply chain
Operating Advantage: Access to infrastructure, clean hydro power, and strong federal–provincial critical minerals policies
Highlights – Strong Progress Across Resource Growth, District Consolidation & Battery Technology
1. Rapid Resource Growth and District Expansion (Figure 2)
Landholding expanded by 25% to more than 400 km², consolidating key structural and geological corridors.
Maiden MRE: 8 Mt @ 1.07% Li₂O (Inferred).
Exploration Target expanded: 18–29 Mt @ 0.8–1.2% Li₂O (conceptual).
Over 31 new LCT pegmatite occurrences discovered in 2024.
Figure 2: Project Area Map and Newly Staked Cells (source: CRR).
2. Strong Drill Results Beyond Current Resource Model (Figure 3)
Standout intercepts include:
74.4m @ 1.18% Li₂O (incl. 32.9m @ 1.81% Li₂O)
50.2m @ 1.28% Li₂O
14.6m @ 1.83% Li₂O
Multiple wide intervals confirm extensions at depth and along strike.
Figure 3: Mavis Lake main zone cross section A-A’ (source: CRR).
3. District-Scale Future Potential (Figure 4)
Large areas remain untested; Tot and Gullwing Prospects are fully permitted, spodumene-bearing at surface, and drill-ready.
Recently acquired claims include new untested LCT targets, expanding upside potential.
Figure 4: Mavis Lake Project – Main Zone with long-section A-A’ (source: CRR).
4. Metallurgical Success Supports Low-Cost Development
Feasibility-level test work indicates:
Near 100% spodumene recovery
~30% increase in lithium grade during processing
Low-impurity, high-grade concentrate suitable for downstream conversion.
5. Infrastructure and Permitting Advantage
Immediate access to Trans-Canada Highway, rail, and clean hydroelectric power.
Active Indigenous partnerships, including an Agreement-in-Principle with Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
First full year of baseline environmental studies completed.
6. Vertical Integration – Solid-State Battery Technology Option
Exclusive option with South Dakota School of Mines & Technology covering five granted US patents.
Targets improved thermal stability, safer operating range, and scalable low-cost processing.
Creates potential licensing pathways and mine-to-market integration.
Leadership Commentary
Critical Resources Managing Director, Tim Wither, commented:
‘The counter-cyclical opportunity to stake and acquire additional claims secures a dominant land position over highly prospective geology. This strategic decision underpins future growth potential across the Mavis Lake Lithium Project. A recent onsite meeting with our First Nations partners and the Dryden municipality highlighted the strong local support for Mavis Lake and the opportunity to collaborate on the advancement of the project.
‘For shareholders, Mavis Lake stands as one of Ontario’s significant lithium assets, distinguished by its scale, grade, and access to world-class infrastructure, positioning the project to play a key role in North America’s lithium supply chain. We remain committed to responsible development, strong Indigenous partnerships, and maximising value as the lithium market recovers.’
About the Project
The Mavis Lake Lithium Project lies within the Archean Greenstone Belt of northwestern Ontario—an emerging lithium corridor with multiple spodumene-bearing pegmatites. Key characteristics include:
Strategic jurisdiction with supportive critical minerals policies
District-scale landholding exceeding 400 km²
Major infrastructure: all-season roads, highway access, rail, hydro power
Established partnerships with local First Nations
Exploration strength evidenced by >58,000m drilled and >31 new pegmatite occurrences
Mavis Lake is situated near established North American battery manufacturing hubs in Canada and the US, aligning the Project with downstream demand growth expected from 2026 onwards.
Near-term Milestones to Watch
Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE): Incorporate recent drill results and potential new pegmatite zones.
Permitting Advancement: Continue environmental and baseline studies supporting streamlined approvals (Figure 5).
Offtake and Strategic Engagements: Ongoing discussions with battery manufacturers, utilities, and service providers.
2026 Exploration Program: Drilling at Tot, Gullwing, and newly acquired claims targeting additional spodumene zones.
Technical Studies: Scoping Study progression and preliminary DFS work supported by metallurgical drilling and bulk tests.
Figure 5: Rehabilitation Image Demonstrating Environmental Management (source: CRR).
Samso Concluding Comments
Mavis Lake is a counter-cyclical lithium strategy anchored by systematic exploration, disciplined capital management, and strong infrastructure fundamentals. The district-scale landholding and significant exploration upside offer potential for resource uplift with drilling. While lithium markets remain soft, if independent forecasts suggest recovery from 2026, positioning Critical Resources will benefit as sentiment strengthens across the North American supply chain.
The Mavis Lake story does have scale, does promote geological quality, and infrastructure advantage. Few early-stage lithium projects can point to near-100% spodumene recovery, strong concentrate grades, and immediate access to hydropower, highway, and rail logistics. These elements lower development risk and strengthen future project economics, and most importantly, these points are very marketable to capital, which they will need if they want to take this project to an advanced stage.
The exploration narrative is impressive, with more than 58,000 metres of drilling in three years, new pegmatite discoveries, and extensive untested ground that collectively will highlight the district-scale potential. The ability to add tonnes quickly—and at low cost—is central to building a resilient lithium asset story.
With what I think is a bet on lithium and battery recovery and chasing the gold in New Zealand, CRR does look like they are building a good picture. I am bullish on 2026, and I think if they can handle the capital required to run this strategy, a dual lithium and gold play, this could fair well for shareholders.
Finally, the optionality created through the solid-state battery technology agreement aligns the Project with potential downstream innovations. While still early-stage, such positioning may enhance long-term strategic value as North America accelerates its battery manufacturing footprint.
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