Critical Resources Grows Mavis Lake Lithium Resource by 25%, Eyes Battery Tech Edge

Strategic Expansion in Ontario’s Lithium Corridor

Critical Resources Limited (ASX – CRR) has announced a significant expansion of its Mavis Lake Lithium Project, located in northwestern Ontario, Canada. The company has increased its landholding by 25%, now controlling over 400 square kilometres of highly prospective ground within one of North America’s premier lithium districts. This expansion consolidates key geological trends and secures long-term access to spodumene-bearing pegmatites, underpinning the project’s potential to become a major supplier in the North American lithium supply chain.

Since acquiring the project in 2022, Critical Resources has rapidly advanced exploration, delivering a maiden JORC Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 8 million tonnes at 1.07% lithium oxide (Li₂O). The company has also defined an Exploration Target ranging from 18 to 29 million tonnes at 0.8–1.2% Li₂O, highlighting significant upside potential beyond the current resource base.

Robust Drilling Results and Resource Growth

Ongoing drilling programs have yielded impressive intercepts, including standout results such as 74.4 metres at 1.18% Li₂O (with a high-grade interval of 32.9 metres at 1.81% Li₂O) and 50.2 metres at 1.28% Li₂O. These results confirm that the spodumene mineralisation extends well beyond the existing resource envelope, both along strike and at depth. Additionally, over 31 new lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite occurrences have been identified, with several high-priority drill-ready targets such as the Tot and Gullwing prospects awaiting further exploration.

The company has completed more than 58,000 metres of drilling since 2022, demonstrating a systematic and disciplined approach to resource growth. Large portions of the property remain underexplored, offering substantial discovery potential that could materially increase the project’s scale and grade in future resource updates.

Infrastructure and Community Support Bolster Development Prospects

Mavis Lake benefits from exceptional infrastructure, including immediate access to the Trans-Canada Highway, rail networks, and clean hydroelectric power. These factors support efficient, low-cost logistics and sustainable operations, critical for competitive lithium production. The project also enjoys strong support from provincial and federal governments, which have prioritised critical minerals development through funding, streamlined permitting, and infrastructure investment.

Importantly, Critical Resources maintains robust partnerships with local Indigenous communities, including an Agreement-in-Principle with the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation. This collaboration ensures that project development aligns with community values and environmental stewardship, a key consideration in today’s resource sector.

Innovative Battery Technology Partnership

Beyond resource development, Critical Resources has secured an exclusive option to evaluate advanced solid-state lithium-ion battery technologies in partnership with the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. This research focuses on patented innovations designed to improve battery safety, thermal stability, and charge rates while enabling scalable, low-cost processing. The technology avoids sulphide materials, offering a cleaner and more efficient production pathway.

This strategic move aims to vertically integrate Critical’s lithium supply with next-generation battery manufacturing, potentially unlocking new value streams from mine to market. It positions the company not only as a raw material supplier but also as a participant in the evolving battery technology landscape.

Looking Ahead – Milestones and Market Positioning

Critical Resources is preparing for a busy 2026 exploration program focused on expanding and defining additional resource targets, particularly at the newly acquired claims and priority prospects. The company is also progressing environmental baseline studies and permitting efforts to facilitate rapid project advancement as lithium market conditions improve.

With the lithium market forecasted to rebound strongly from 2026, driven by accelerating electric vehicle and energy storage demand, Mavis Lake’s scale, grade, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships position Critical Resources to capitalise on this growth. The company’s disciplined capital management and technical expertise underpin its ambition to become a leading lithium supplier in North America.