Deeper Drilling Confirms Multiple Horizons At The Nevada North Discovery

VANCOUVER - Surge Battery Metals Inc. reported that the first certified assay results from the 2023 core drilling phase on its high-grade lithium clay discovery at Nevada North (NNLP) have returned greater than 4000 ppm Lithium (Li) for some samples starting from surface and to depths greater than 175m. The highest-grade assay of 7,630 ppm Li was observed at less than 30m depth.

After the successful 2023 sonic drilling campaign at the NNLP, Surge proceeded with the diamond core drilling program. The maximum depth reached by sonic drilling was 107.5m, whereas diamond holes extended to 243m (NN2308). Diamond holes NN2306, NN2308 and NN2309 at the south end of the NNLP intercepted extended lithium clay mineralization west from the 2022 Reverse Circulation drilling, validated 2022 RC assay results, and encountered additional mineralization at depth. It is expected that deeper clay mineralization discovered in this round becomes shallower towards the east and adds to the already extensive near-surface lithium clay mineralization outlined by drilling thus far.

Drilled to a total depth of 198.72m (652 ft), hole NN2306 was located to investigate farther west into the basin from holes NN2207 and NN2208. This diamond core step-out hole confirmed the continuation of the upper high-grade lithium clay sequence, which typically hosts three mineralized clay zones. NN2306 returned positive sample results ranging between the 1000 ppm cutoff to 5,120 ppm Li. These results include high grades averaging 4423 ppm Li over 9.8m, 4673 ppm over 11.4m, and 2805 ppm over 10.8m. This entire sequence was observed at less than 50m depth. Below the upper lithium clay bearing zone, NN2306 continues to a total depth of 198.72m, which revealed several more lithium-enriched layers.

Drilled to a total depth of 243m (797 ft), hole NN2308 was designed to investigate deeper mineralization beneath sonic core hole NN2301 and to compare results obtained in the sonic vs. diamond core drilling. This diamond core hole confirmed grades observed in sonic drilling with results including high grades averaging 4718 ppm Li over 25m, 3812 ppm Li over 9.2m, 2300 ppm Li over 3.1m, and 2627 ppm Li over 3.4m. The entire sequence was observed at depths of less than 75m. Results for the upper clay intervals intersected in NN2301 were similar: 4939 ppm Li over 24.4m, 3758 ppm Li over 9.1m, 2284 ppm Li over 3.8m, and 2591 ppm Li over 5.3m. The core hole NN2308 also intersected an untested mineralized clay zone beneath a thick (~100m) zone of airfall and welded tuff. Continuing to a total depth of 243m revealed two deeper mineralized clay layers.

Drilled to a total depth of 132m (433 ft), hole NN2309 was designed to investigate deeper mineralization beneath last year's reverse circulation hole NN2208 and to compare results obtained in the reverse circulation vs. diamond core drilling. This diamond core hole confirmed grades observed in reverse circulation drilling with results including high grades averaging 3446 ppm Li over 21.9m, 3591 ppm Li over 47.4m, and 2143 ppm Li over 4.6m. Results for the upper clay intervals intersected in NN2208 were similar with an overall positive difference of 9% for core as compared to RC. Continued drilling revealed another mineralized clay zone of 1177 ppm Li over 18.3m, which increases the thickness of the mineralization at this location by 19%.

Greg Reimer, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Diamond drilling results, combined with previous sonic and RC results, are starting to outline a large volume of greater than 4000+ ppm Li within our upper clay horizon at the NNLP. Additionally, the deeper mineralization intersected in NN2308 is promising; it validates our interpretations and provides a critical exploration target in tracing this mineralization up dip to the east, where it is expected to approach the surface. Finally, the twinning of NN2208 bolsters our confidence in the assay results from the 2022 reverse circulation drilling. We look forward to following up these exciting results in the future."