First Phosphate Corp has released new assay results from its ongoing 25,000-meter drill program at the Begin-Lamarche project in Quebec, revealing several high-grade phosphate intersections that underscore the project's potential significance for battery and agricultural applications. The latest findings include particularly strong results from the Phosphate Mountain Zone, where drill hole BL-24-56 intersected 11.82% P2O5 over 92.5 meters starting from just 6.5 meters below surface, indicating substantial near-surface mineralization that could potentially reduce future mining costs.
The Phosphate Mountain Zone features thick layers of phosphate-bearing nelsonite outcropping at surface level, with multiple other intersections exceeding 10% P2O5, demonstrating consistent high-grade mineralization throughout the area. Geological mapping reveals this zone is merging with the Northern Zone, creating a combined mineralized envelope approximately 500 meters thick containing up to five individual phosphate layers ranging from 60 to 100 meters in thickness. The combined strike length of these two zones extends approximately 600 meters, suggesting substantial tonnage potential for future resource estimation.
In the Northern Zone specifically, drill hole BL-24-40 returned 7.76% P2O5 over 88.2 meters from a depth of 186.0 meters, including a higher-grade section of 9.33% P2O5 over 61.2 meters. These results, combined with positive findings from the Northwestern Zone and Southern Zone, indicate robust mineralization potential across multiple areas of the property, supporting the company's confidence in the project's district-scale potential. The consistent high-grade intersections across different zones suggest geological continuity that could support long-term mining operations.
To date, the company has completed 23,398 meters of drilling, with assays from 9,155 meters finalized and 4,691 samples still pending laboratory analysis. These ongoing results are critical for First Phosphate Corp as the company positions itself to supply high-quality phosphate material for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are becoming increasingly important in the electric vehicle industry. The project's location in Quebec provides strategic advantages given the province's supportive mining policies and established infrastructure, potentially facilitating future development timelines. The combination of near-surface mineralization, consistent high grades, and multiple mineralized zones suggests the Begin-Lamarche project could become a significant North American source of battery-grade phosphate, reducing reliance on international supply chains for this critical battery material.
