Li-FT Power Hits 1.65% Lithium at Yellowknife as BIG East Zone Stays Open at Depth
Li-FT Power delivers strong drill results from Yellowknife lithium campaign
Li-FT Power has completed 20 drill holes totalling 5,324 metres across its Yellowknife Lithium Project in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The campaign marks the first drilling at the BIG pegmatite system since the company published an inferred mineral resource in October 2024, combining infill and extension drilling to build on the existing resource base. The project is located outside the city of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, with access to existing infrastructure including roads, hydro power, and an airport.
The program comprised 17 holes (4,778 m) from the 2026 winter campaign and 3 holes (546 m) from the 2025 summer geotechnical program. Results demonstrate grade continuity across multiple pegmatite systems and confirm mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike at BIG East, indicating further expansion potential.
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Standout intercepts highlight grade continuity across multiple pegmatites
Five headline intercepts demonstrate robust lithium grades spanning three separate pegmatite systems: BIG East, Fi Main, and Ki. Mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike at BIG East, indicating further upside potential for resource expansion.
| Hole ID | Pegmatite | Intercept | Grade (Li₂O) | Including |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YLP-0312 | BIG East | 26 m | 1.29% | 17 m at 1.65% |
| YLP-0306 | Ki | 18 m | 1.41% | – |
| YLP-0304 | Fi Main | 21 m | 1.09% | 13 m at 1.38% |
| YLP-0315 | BIG East | 22 m | 1.09% | – |
| YLP-0320 | BIG East | 17 m | 1.32% | – |
Consistent grades above 1% Li₂O across multiple pegmatites support the quality and scale of the lithium endowment. Results from BIG East, Fi Main, and Ki demonstrate that high-grade mineralisation is not confined to a single zone but extends across the broader project area.
What is Li₂O grade and why does it matter for lithium investors?
Li₂O (lithium oxide) is the standard reporting metric for hard rock lithium deposits. Grades above 1% Li₂O are generally considered economic for spodumene deposits, the lithium-bearing mineral confirmed at Yellowknife through visual core logging, mineralogical studies, and metallurgical work.
Higher grades typically mean lower processing costs and stronger margins, as less rock needs to be mined and processed to produce a given quantity of lithium concentrate. The consistent grades above 1% Li₂O reported across multiple pegmatites at Yellowknife indicate the project has the potential to support economically viable mining operations.
Understanding grade benchmarks helps investors assess whether drill results are commercially meaningful. The intercepts reported here meet or exceed typical economic thresholds for hard rock lithium projects.
BIG East emerges as the drilling focus with extensive step-out success
Sixteen of the 17 winter 2026 holes targeted BIG East, a north-northeast trending corridor of parallel dykes extending at least 1.8 km along strike, 10-100 m wide, dipping 55-75 degrees west. Drilling extended across 1,000 m of strike length and tested depths from 50 to 300 metres below surface.
Key southern extension results at YLP-0319 and YLP-0320 leave the system open to the south and at depth:
- YLP-0320: 17 m at 1.32% Li₂O at 200 m below surface
- YLP-0319: 11 m at 1.22% Li₂O at 100 m below surface
- YLP-0313: 10 m at 1.12% Li₂O plus 10 m at 0.68% Li₂O (including 6 m at 1.03%)
Systematic drilling confirms grade continuity at depth while identifying areas for future resource expansion. The southern extension remains untested below 200 m, and multiple sections along the 1.8 km strike show mineralisation continuing to depth with no closed boundaries.
Geotechnical drilling advances project toward feasibility studies
Three holes from the 2025 summer program were drilled specifically for rock mechanics testing, targeting Fi Main, Fi SW, and Ki pegmatites. Geotechnical data is essential for mine planning and will feed into future engineering studies. These holes still returned meaningful grades despite being drilled for geotechnical purposes:
- YLP-0304 (Fi Main): 21 m at 1.09% Li₂O including 13 m at 1.38%
- YLP-0306 (Ki): 18 m at 1.41% Li₂O
- YLP-0305 (Fi SW): 21 m at 0.50% Li₂O including 8 m at 1.10%
Dual-purpose drilling demonstrates capital efficiency while advancing the project toward development milestones. Collecting geotechnical core samples from mineralised zones allows the company to progress engineering studies without sacrificing resource definition drilling.
Yellowknife’s infrastructure advantage positions project for development
The Yellowknife Lithium Project benefits from proximity to established infrastructure that could significantly reduce development costs and timelines compared to remote lithium projects:
- Hydro power: Nearby Talston hydroelectric facility
- Transmission lines: Existing power transmission infrastructure
- Airport: Regional airport for personnel and equipment transport
- Winter road network: Established Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road connecting to other major mining operations
Infrastructure connectivity can significantly reduce capital requirements for power generation, road construction, and logistics. The project’s location near existing mining operations and power infrastructure provides a competitive advantage in advancing toward development.
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Next steps for the Yellowknife Lithium Project
The Company is engaged in ongoing drilling and exploration work. Mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike at BIG East, providing targets for future campaigns. Results will feed into updated geological models and potentially future resource estimates.
Continued drilling momentum signals management’s commitment to advancing the project toward development. The systematic approach to infill and extension drilling at BIG East, combined with geotechnical data collection at Fi Main, Fi SW, and Ki, demonstrates a pathway toward resource expansion and feasibility-stage engineering studies.
Want to Track Li-FT Power’s Progress at Yellowknife?
The company has now completed over 5,300 metres of drilling across multiple high-grade pegmatite systems, with mineralisation remaining open at depth and along strike. This systematic approach to resource expansion and geotechnical data collection suggests the project is advancing toward feasibility-stage studies.
For regular updates on drilling results, resource estimates, and development milestones, visit the Li-FT Power investor centre. Stay informed as the company works to define the full scale of its Canadian lithium endowment.