
Stria Lithium Inc. (TSXV: SRA) announced the completion of its fall 2022, 2,028-metre helicopter-supported core drilling program at its flagship Pontax lithium spodumene pegmatite dyke (LSPD) prospect located on their Pontax Lithium property, in west-central Eeyou Istchee Baie-James Territory of northern Québec. The drilling program was designed to test the continuity at depth of the spodumene mineralization over the entire known strike length of the central spodumene-bearing pegmatite dyke swarm zone at the Pontax LSPD prospect.
The fall core drilling program at the Pontax LSPD prospect was designed and operated by their partner Cygnus Gold Limited (ASX: CY5)and comprised of seven inclined NQ-diameter holes for a total of 2,028 metres drilled (holes 975-22-026 to 975-22-032). Analytical results for the first set of drill core samples expedited to SGS Canada Inc. Laboratories in Lakefield, Ontario, are expected early in the first quarter of 2023. IOS Services Géoscientifiques Inc. (IOS) of Saguenay, Québec, provided technical and logistical support for the drilling program while core drilling was performed by Forage RJLL of Rouyn-Noranda, Québec.
In July, Stria announced a partnership with Cygnus Gold Limited (ASX: CY5) (“Cygnus”) by which Cygnus has been granted the sole and exclusive option to acquire up to a 70 % undivided interest in Stria’s Pontax-Lithium property (“Pontax”) under a two-stage option for total cash payments of $6.0 million and exploration expenditure commitments totalling $10.0 million. Cygnus has been exploring the property under the terms of the first of the two-stage option, by which Cygnus is required to incur exploration expenditures on the Property in the amount of $4.0 million over a period of 18 months.
Dean Hanisch, CEO of Stria made some comments on the project:
“Our partner Cygnus has held true to its strategy of advancing the Pontax Lithium project through aggressive drilling regardless of the time of year. They have made it clear they will drill year-round and have secured the funds to do it through their recent $8 million financing, which puts them at $15 million in available funds. With the 2,000-metre fall drilling program now complete, the team at Cygnus will take a break for the holidays and will resume helicopter-borne drilling in the New Year”.
Cygnus is currently organizing a winter road to the project to bring in a minimum of three land drill rigs and related equipment and supplies to carry out its planned 10,000-metre plus drilling program.

The exploration team at Pontax has been supported by Relais Routier 381, a rest stop located on the Billy Diamond (James Bay) Highway at KM 381, that provided accommodations and meals for the team while in the field. The facility is owned and operated by the Société de Développement de la Baie-James (SDBJ), which provides a vital source of gas, food and lodging in this remote area of northern Québec.
Mr. Hanisch made some comments about the region:
“We are grateful to have the Relais Routier 381 as our home base for the Cygnus/Stria Pontax drilling team since it is close to our Project and saves us from having to make expensive and time-consuming alternatives in order to complete our work initiatives. We are thankful for the support that the Forage RJLL drillers have received from the operations staff at the facility. The Canadian and Quebec governments showed great foresight in investing in the Relais Routier 381 initiative, and it’s another example of how Canada, and Quebec in particular, are very favourable jurisdictions to explore and develop critical minerals projects.”
Michael Naylor, Cygnus’ Executive Director, also commented:
“We strongly believe that Pontax is a standout opportunity to rapidly define a hard rock lithium resource in a Tier-1 jurisdiction with world-class infrastructure and several large hard rock lithium deposits. It’s going to be an exciting six months as exploration begins to ramp up with 10,000 metres of drilling just beginning and results beginning to filter through”.
Stria Lithium is a market awareness client of Capital 10X.