Resource World Magazine

A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 www.resourceworld.com 55 BlueBird Battery Metals exploring and acquiring Australian prospects BLUEBIRD BATTERY METALS INC. [BATT-TSXV; BBBMF-OTC] is conducting its initial exploration program at the 100%-optioned Canegrass nickel-cobalt-copper project in the Mount Magnet region 550 km northeast of Perth, Western Australia. As reflected by its name, the company is targeting metals used in lithium-ion batteries, including cobalt, copper, and nickel. "We are pleased to commence our initial exploration program on our priority nickel-cobalt-copper project within the largest layered intrusive complex in Australia. Previous exploration, not followed up on since 2014, highlighted exciting nickel and cobalt grades close to surface that clearly deserve attention, noting the recent increase in cobalt and nickel commodity prices," said Peter Ball, Chairman and CEO of BlueBird. "The interest in the battery metals sector has surged in the past year, noting the exponential demand for cobalt related to the electric vehicle revolution and the supply gap that is foreseen in the next few years. Bluebird continues to review other potential opportunities to add to our portfolio." The underexplored, 4,200-hectare Canegrass Ni-Co-Cu proj- ect is located about 60 km southeast of Mount Magnet, Western Australia. The project is located within the Windimurra igne- ous complex, the largest layered mafic-ultramafic intrusive in Australia; it is the thickest in the world and geologically similar to the Bushveld igneous complex in South Africa. After acquiring the Canegrass property in March 2018, ground EM (electromagnetic) geophysical surveys were conducted shortly thereafter at two priority targets (CG02 and CG039), where pre- vious drilling had identified nickel, cobalt and copper close to surface. In 2013, an airborne VTEM geophysical survey identified 14 conductors on the property, six of which are associated with coincident magnetic anomalies. Preliminary interpretation of the geophysical surveys identi- fied the presence of strong EM conductors at both targets. The ground EM survey program expanded across the multiple other conductors identified in 2013. Initial diamond drilling (10 holes) was completed in 2014 at two of the 14 identified conductors and intersected nickel, cobalt and copper in nine of the 10 holes drilled. Hole CPRC004 intersected 13 metres grading 0.91% nickel, 0.08% cobalt and 0.58% copper, the most significant result to date. Downhole EM surveys completed in 2014 identi- fied off-hole anomalies that were never followed up or drilled. Recommendations from the initial exploration included follow-up ground EM surveys over the identified conductors and a high- resolution airborne magnetic survey over the entire property. Now an expanded airborne magnetic survey is underway and BlueBird is reviewing drill permits to ensure the company can test new priority targets in early Q3 2018. BlueBird will expedite the analysis of results from the airborne- and ground-based surveys, and accelerate permitting and a drill targeting exercise to ensure the company can test the priority tar- gets by means of reverse circulation drilling in early Q3 2018. Also in Western Australia, BlueBird recently signed a bind- ing Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire 100% of the rights, title and interest in the granted exploration licences of the Ashburton cobalt-manganese project 100 km southwest of Paraburdoo in the Pilbara region. The 189 km 2 tenement package increases BlueBird's portfolio of cobalt-focused projects in Western Australia to 231 km 2 , and its total portfolio in Australia to 518 km 2 . The project is comprised of three tenements, Capricorn, Jessice Bore and Edmund, all located along the surface trace of a major structural feature – the Talga Fault Zone. Exploration plans are being developed. On the other side of Australia, Bluebird recently entered into a LOI to acquire 100% of Oberon Gold Pty. Ltd., an Australian company that controls 100% the high-grade Sandy Point cobalt project, which includes the Greendale polymetallic project, and 100% of the Reedy Creek polymetallic project, all located in New South Wales. Sandy Point is between Canberra and Sidney. Surface rock chip sampling yielded 1.75% cobalt, 0.88% cobalt, 0.77% cobalt and 0.75% cobalt (from 38 rock chips greater than 0.10% cobalt, and averaging 0.35% cobalt) and illustrate potential to discover a high-grade, at or near surface cobalt resource. Fortuitously, the samples contained no arsenic and also had lithium and manganese credits. Management is of the view that the metallurgy is simple with metals expected to be recovered by solvent extraction. Exploration plans are being formulated. This acquisition will solidify Bluebird with a 202 km 2 strategic prop- erty position within the emerging Bungonia Battery Metal Cobalt District. At the Batt cobalt-copper project in southwestern Yukon, Bluebird will be conducting a field survey in August. n Alfred Stewart, President of Bluebird Battery Metals, a geologist, examines mineral samples at the Canegrass prospect in the Mount Magnet area West Australia. Photo courtesy Bluebird Battery Metals Inc. MINING

• Cover