Lithium Surge at Lac Escale: Brunswick’s Drilling Success Fuels Globex’s Royalty Play

The lithium sector is buzzing with news from Quebec’s Lac Escale property, where Brunswick Exploration Inc. (BRW) has delivered a series of robust drill results, directly benefiting Globex Mining Enterprises (GMX) through its 3% gross metal royalty. Recent updates from early 2025 highlight expanding lithium mineralization, strong metallurgical potential, and a project trajectory that could solidify Lac Escale as a cornerstone of North America’s critical minerals supply chain.

Drill Results Reinforce Scale and Grade

Brunswick’s winter 2025 drill program at Lac Escale—part of its 12,000-meter campaign—targeted the Central Zone, focusing on the MR-3 and MR-6 pegmatite dykes. Results from 24 holes revealed consistently wide intersections of lithium mineralization, with grades and thicknesses that suggest potential for open-pit mining. Notable highlights include:

• Hole MR-24-91: 56 meters grading 1.40% Li₂O, a critical sample for upcoming metallurgical testing due to its near-surface location and thickness.
• MR-6 dyke expansion: 1.74% Li₂O over 19.7 meters (Hole MR-24-84) and 1.39% Li₂O over 12.9 meters (Hole MR-24-78) demonstrate the dyke’s northwest extension, while stacked dykes to the east show grades as high as 1.99% Li₂O.
• Down-dip potential: The MR-3 dyke remains open at depth, with 37 meters at 1.14% Li₂O in Hole MR-24-87, indicating vertical continuity.

These results are particularly compelling because they align with industry benchmarks for economic lithium projects. Grades above 1% Li₂O are typically considered viable for spodumene concentrate production, and the thickness of intersections (e.g., 56 meters in MR-24-91) suggests large-scale, low-strip-ratio mining opportunities.

Globex’s Royalty Position and Project Context

Globex’s 3% royalty on Lac Escale means its returns will scale directly with the project’s success. The property is part of Brunswick’s 100%-owned Mirage project, located in Quebec’s Eeyou Istchee-James Bay region—a lithium exploration hotspot. Key strategic advantages include:

• Strategic location: Proximity to infrastructure (e.g., the James Bay hydroelectric grid) and Quebec’s push to develop its critical minerals sector.
• Metallurgical progress: Samples from the MR-6 dyke achieved >80% lithium recovery in preliminary tests, a critical hurdle for project viability.
• Open-ended mineralization: Drill results confirm that Lac Escale’s lithium zones are expanding both laterally and vertically, with the Central Zone’s MR-6 and MR-3 dykes remaining open along strike and at depth.

Market Relevance and Investment Implications

Lithium prices remain volatile, but long-term demand for EV batteries and energy storage is undeniable. For investors, Lac Escale’s progress offers two key angles:

1. Brunswick’s Upside: The company is executing a disciplined, multi-phase drill program to define a resource base. A feasibility study could follow if metallurgical and resource delineation targets are met.
2. Globex’s Leveraged Play: With its royalty, Globex avoids the capital risks of development while benefiting from any future production or resource upgrades.

Risks and Considerations

As with any exploration play, risks include:
- Regulatory hurdles: Quebec’s permitting process for mining projects can be lengthy.
- Commodity price fluctuations: Lithium pricing depends on global EV adoption rates and Chinese production dynamics.
- Technical execution: Successful metallurgical testing and resource definition are prerequisites for a mine plan.

Conclusion: A High-Potential Lithium Story

Lac Escale’s recent drilling results are a strong vote of confidence in the project’s scale and grade. With Brunswick’s aggressive 12,000-meter program and Globex’s royalty providing asymmetric upside, this property stands out in a lithium space increasingly dominated by large-scale, long-lead-time projects.

The data underscores the project’s potential:
- Resource delineation: The 24-hole winter program has already identified zones with grades exceeding 1.5% Li₂O over 30+ meters—metrics that compare favorably to established lithium mines like Pilgangoora in Australia (average grade ~1.5% Li₂O).
- Royalty leverage: At a hypothetical 100,000-tonne/year spodumene operation with lithium prices at $6,000/tonne (a conservative estimate), Globex’s 3% royalty could generate $18 million annually before taxes.

For investors, Lac Escale represents a rare combination of exploration upside, strategic location, and a royalty structure that minimizes risk. As Brunswick continues to advance this project through 2025, both BRW and GMX warrant close attention in a lithium market hungry for North American supply.