Winsome Resources Managing Director Chris Evans has arrived in Quebec at the start of a six-week trip to North America.

The visit follows the company’s recent expansion announcement with Winsome signing an exclusive option agreement to acquire and explore 259 claims totalling 140km at Mazerac in the highly sought-after Decelles region in Quebec.

Already in the first half of this year, Winsome has successfully expanded its lithium exploration footprint.

In January, the company signed an exclusive option agreement to acquire and execute 669 claims totalling 385m2 also in the Decelles region. 

The region has seen much recent activity including high-grade spodumene discoveries by Vision Lithium at their adjacent Cadillac property.

This week, Mr Evans and Canadian Country Manager Carl Caumartin will join geological field teams who are already on the ground at Mazerac and Decelles where exploration work is underway.

Once the snow fully melts, the field teams will move further north to Winsome’s flagship project Cancet where they intend to spend the summer months investigating the targets generated through recent magnetic, gravity and lidar surveys.

In addition to visiting the company’s projects, Mr Evans plans to meet with key stakeholders including the local Cree people and will be presenting at a number of industry conventions while in North America.

It is the second time in three months that Mr Evans has been on the ground in Quebec, his previous visit in February coinciding with the company’s maiden drill program which commenced at Cancet while there was still considerable snowfall.

Drill results are expected to be delivered in the new few weeks. Meanwhile, the gravity survey has been expanded to cover all of Cancet with results due in the next month.

Mr Evans said Winsome was intentionally moving rapidly with exploration work with a view to capitalising on the booming demand for lithium.

“On the ground, the focus for the next month is on initial reconnaissance and field work at the new properties before a concentrated exploration program at Cancet for the northern summer,” explained Mr Evans.

While at the Decelles and Mazerac projects, Mr Evans and Mr Caumartin will inspect large outcrops which can be seen from Google Earth along with other targets generated by interpreting publicly available geophysical data that has been generated over these new claims.

The pair will then visit the company’s sites by helicopter accompanied by a senior geologist from the Quebec Department of Energy and Natural Resources to familiarise the regulatory authority with the projects and exploration plans. They will also further investigate targets around Cancet and Winsome’s other projects at Adina and Sirmac.

The party will be joined by geology specialist Glenn Griesbach who has partnered with Winsome on the Decelles and Mazerac projects to assist in exploration and acquisition activities.

Mr Evans will also present at the annual PDAC conference – regarded as the world’s premier mineral exploration and mining convention – in Toronto running from June 13 to 15.

His presentation will focus on the “Winsome trifecta” – lithium focused, ASX listed and with assets in a world-renowned mining jurisdiction.

“We are definitely in the right place at the right time,” Mr Evans said.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the Winsome story at the conference and exploring new opportunities in Canada for Winsome.

“My trip to Quebec earlier in the year really reinforced the country’s global reputation as a quality mining jurisdiction which is very supportive of new ventures. With 99.8 per cent of Quebec’s electricity produced by hydropower, it really is an ideal location for the sustainable mining and production of lithium.”

Mr Evans will also be attending Fastmarkets’ Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials 2022 convention in Phoenix from June 27 to 29.

“It’s the premier lithium conference and attracts all of the key lithium players from around the world,” he said.

“It is another great opportunity to promote Winsome and the chance to learn about new technologies driving the industry forward.”