Lithium Africa Defines a Second Spodumene Trend in Côte d'Ivoire: Kanien Trend Rock Samples up to 1.98% Li2O Highlight Discovery Potential

New Kanien Trend sampling in Côte d'Ivoire supports Lithium Africa’s view of Adzopé as an emerging, district-scale hard-rock lithium play.

Rhea-AI Summary

Lithium Africa (LTAFF) reported rock sampling results from its Agboville license in Côte d'Ivoire that define the new Kanien Trend, a ~2.8 km spodumene-bearing pegmatite trend with 19 grab samples returning up to 1.98% Li2O, including 14 samples above 1.0% Li2O between May 2025 and May 2026.

The Kanien Trend lies along strike of Atlantic Lithium’s Rubino license samples (up to 1.36% Li2O), outlining a ~7 km corridor of spodumene pegmatite occurrences across the license boundary. It is the second primary spodumene trend in the Adzopé District, alongside the Saby Trend, where an initial 2,000 m RC drill program has completed 1,137 m and is expected to resume after the rainy season, with assays targeted for Q4 2026. The District currently covers about 485 km² of granted licenses, with an additional ~368 km² Sikensi permit under application, and is being advanced under a 50/50 joint venture with GFL International.

Positive

• Kanien Trend sampling: 19 spodumene pegmatite grab samples up to 1.98% Li2O, 14 above 1.0% Li2O along ~2.8 km
• Adzopé District scale: approximately 485 km² of granted licenses, plus a 367.79 km² Sikensi permit application
• 7 km spodumene corridor: Kanien Trend aligned along strike with Atlantic Lithium’s Rubino samples to define ~7 km of occurrences
• Saby Trend drilling: 2,000 m RC program underway, with 1,137 m completed and assays targeted for Q4 2026
• JV backing: District-scale exploration advanced through a 50/50 joint venture with GFL International

Negative

• Sampling limits: grab samples are selective and not necessarily representative of overall mineralization
• QA/QC issues: one CRM standard outside tolerance, some blanks slightly elevated, and one CRM above method range not re-assayed
• No independent duplicates: no field-duplicate program or second-lab check assays implemented for this rock program
• Operational pause: Saby Trend RC drilling halted for the rainy season after 1,137 m, delaying completion
• Permit uncertainty: no assurance that the 367.79 km² Sikensi exploration permit application will be granted

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Cape Town, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - September 16, 2026) - Lithium Africa Corp. (TSXV: LAF) (FSE: 6MQ) (OTCQB: LTAFF) ("Lithium Africa" or the "Company") today reports rock sampling results from its Agboville license in Côte d'Ivoire that define the Kanien Trend, the second of two primary spodumene pegmatite trends in the Company's Adzopé District (the "District") alongside the Saby Trend at Adzopé. Nineteen spodumene-bearing pegmatite samples from the Kanien Trend returned up to 1.98% Li₂O, with 14 of 19 above 1.0% Li₂O, highlighting the discovery potential of the District. Through its 50/50 joint venture with GFL International Co., Ltd., the Company is advancing a district-scale exploration program across the approximately 485 km² of granted licenses that make up the District as a single, integrated opportunity.¹ The Company has also applied for the adjacent Sikensi license (approximately 368 km²), which, if granted, would extend the District.¹

Highlights

• Kanien Trend defined at Agboville: 19 spodumene-bearing pegmatite rock samples returned up to 1.98% Li₂O, with 14 of 19 above 1.0% Li₂O, along a 2.8 km trend (Table 1).

• A ~7 km corridor of spodumene occurrences: the Kanien Trend lies along strike of spodumene pegmatite samples of up to 1.36% Li₂O reported by Atlantic Lithium Limited ("Atlantic Lithium") on its adjacent Rubino license,² approximately 3 km to the northeast; together, these define a corridor of spodumene pegmatite occurrences approximately 7 km long across the license boundary (Figure 1).

• Second primary trend in the Adzopé District: the Kanien Trend joins the previously defined multi-kilometer Saby Trend at Adzopé, where trenching returned 8.0 m at 1.10% Li₂O and a 2,000m drill campaign is ongoing (see the Company's news release dated April 23, 2026 titled, "Lithium Africa to Commence 2,000 m Drill Program at Adzopé and Provides Côte d'Ivoire Exploration Update").

• District targeting underway: regional mapping, geochronology and granite geochemistry studies are ongoing across the District to identify fertile intrusions and prioritize the next targets for trenching and drilling.

Thomas R. Benson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Director of Lithium Africa, commented: "Following a year of systematic, disciplined field work by our Ivorian team, the Adzopé District now has two primary spodumene trends. The Kanien Trend, grading up to 1.98% Li₂O and on strike with our neighbor's spodumene occurrences, joins the Saby Trend, which the Lithium Africa team identified earlier and where our drilling campaign is ongoing. The Kanien results are early-stage, but taken together, the two trends point to an emerging lithium district rather than a series of isolated occurrences. Our approach from here is to explore it as one: use mapping, geochronology, and granite geochemistry to identify the fertile intrusions across the District, and drill only the targets that can move the value of this Company."

Agboville Results

The Agboville license covers 399.27 km², about 85 km north of the Port of Abidjan (Figure 1). Regional mapping has defined metasediments intruded by Eburnean granitoids, including a NE-SW trending sheared muscovite granite in the northeastern part of the license, cut by spodumene-bearing pegmatites composed of quartz, albite, and spodumene.

Nineteen rock samples of spodumene-bearing pegmatite were collected during successive mapping campaigns between May 2025 and May 2026. Together they define the Kanien Trend, a spodumene-bearing pegmatite trend approximately 2.8 km long along the sheared muscovite granite (Figure 1). Spodumene pegmatite samples reported by Atlantic Lithium on its adjacent Rubino license lie along strike approximately 3 km to the northeast of the Kanien Trend, such that the two occurrences together define a corridor of spodumene pegmatite occurrences approximately 7 km long.² Samples grading above 1.0% Li₂O are presented in Table 1, the full set of samples is presented in Appendix A, and all samples are shown in Figure 1. Rock samples are selective by nature and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property.

Table 1: Kanien Trend spodumene-bearing pegmatite rock samples grading above 1.0% Li₂O. Fourteen of the nineteen spodumene-bearing pegmatite rock samples collected between May 2025 and May 2026 graded above 1.0% Li₂O. The full set of samples is presented in Appendix A. Li₂O is calculated from Li using a factor of 2.153. Coordinates are WGS 84 / UTM Zone 30N.

Sample ID	Li2O (%)	Easting (m)	Northing (m)
LOV_055	1.98	352,950	660,943
LOV_028	1.79	354,305	663,197
LOV_027	1.66	354,271	663,196
LOV_014	1.66	354,438	663,296
LOV_054	1.66	352,941	660,942
LOV_035*	1.42	353,589	662,917
LOV_064	1.40	352,988	660,925
LOV_034	1.37	354,328	663,199
LOV_029	1.31	354,334	663,196
LOV_058	1.12	352,985	660,925
LOV_016	1.09	354,456	663,293
LOV_036*	1.06	353,675	661,226
LOV_020	1.06	354,338	663,209
LOV_026	1.01	354,271	663,179
* Float sample.

 

Figure 1: (left - below) The Adzopé District, Côte d'Ivoire, showing the Adzopé and Agboville licenses and the Sikensi application, the Saby and Kanien spodumene pegmatite trends, Atlantic Lithium's Rubino license, and road and rail links to Abidjan. (right - below) The Kanien Trend on the Agboville license, showing spodumene-bearing pegmatite rock samples grading above 0.5% Li₂O. Lithium Africa samples are in Appendix A of this news release; Atlantic Lithium samples are from its news releases dated May 22, 2025 and October 20, 2025, with only samples above 0.5% Li₂O shown.² Together the occurrences define a corridor of spodumene pegmatite approximately 7 km long across the license boundary.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11554/314546_f5c82ed674a439f9_001full.jpg

The Adzopé District

The Company considers the Adzopé and Agboville licenses, together with the Sikensi ground under application,¹ to represent a single emerging lithium district on the basis of the shared muscovite-bearing granites interpreted as parental to the pegmatites, the two primary spodumene pegmatite trends now defined at the Saby Trend (Adzopé) and the Kanien Trend (Agboville), and the spodumene occurrences reported by Atlantic Lithium on its adjacent licenses along strike of the Kanien Trend, as disclosed in its news releases dated May 22, 2025 and October 20, 2025.² Regional mapping, geochronology and whole-rock and mica geochemistry are in progress across the District to distinguish fertile from barren intrusions and to focus future trenching, auger and drill programs.

Adzopé Drilling Update

The 2,000 m RC program on the Saby Trend (see the Company's news releases dated April 23, 2026 and July 7, 2026) was paused for the rainy season after 1,137 m had been completed. Drilling is expected to resume in the coming weeks. Assay results from the program, together with associated QA/QC, will be reported once results have been received and validated by the Qualified Person, targeted for Q4 2026.

Share Issuances

Further to its news release dated March 30, 2026, the Company has issued 77,753 common shares at a deemed price of C$1.78 per share to an arm's length consultant in satisfaction of the second and final tranche (US$100,000) of the finder's fee payable in connection with the acquisition of Namli Exploration & Mining Proprietary Limited.

Further to its news release dated July 7, 2026, the Company has also issued 10,000 common shares at a deemed price of C$1.50 per share pursuant to a debt settlement agreement dated July 6, 2026.

All issuances were approved by the TSX Venture Exchange and the shares are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance.

QA/QC and Data Verification

Rock samples were collected by the Company's geologists as grab samples from outcrop and, where noted, float, with locations recorded by GPS and verified and digitized by desktop GIS mapping work. Blanks (cement) and certified reference materials were inserted at the Company's field camp. Samples were prepared at Intertek Minerals, Tarkwa, Ghana (method SP02, 85% passing 75 microns) and analyzed at Intertek Genalysis, Perth, Western Australia, by four-acid digest and ICP-MS (method 4A-Li/MS48). Samples returning above 5,000 ppm Li were re-analyzed by four-acid digest with an ICP-OES finish (method 4AH/OE). The multi-acid digest is considered a near-total digestion. Lithium hosted in certain minerals may not be completely dissolved. Certified reference material standards largely returned within tolerance; OREAS 45h returned outside expected tolerance for Li. OREAS 752 exceeded the upper limit of the primary method in two batches and was not re-assayed by the over-range method, so its lithium accuracy was not measured. Field blanks also returned slightly elevated Li values relative to detection limit across the program. These have been flagged to the laboratory for follow-up and, in the Company's assessment, do not materially affect the interpretation of the results reported herein. A total of 19 QC samples - five CRM standards, five field blanks, and nine laboratory control blanks/check assays - were submitted alongside alongside the rock samples of this program. No independent field-duplicate program has yet been implemented for this rock-sampling program; analytical precision has to date been monitored through laboratory check assays only. Sample preparation and analysis were both conducted by Intertek entities, and no check assays have yet been sent to a second, independent laboratory. Intertek is independent of the Company.

Benjamin Gelber, P.Geo., the Qualified Person for this news release, has verified the data disclosed herein, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the results. Verification consisted of a review of the original Intertek Genalysis assay certificates for all analytical batches against the Company's rock geochemistry database, including the over-range lithium re-assays; recalculation of the Li₂O values in Table 1 and Appendix A from the certified lithium values; a review of the certified reference material and blank results for each batch; a review of the field logs and photographs supporting the classification of the tabulated samples as spodumene-bearing pegmatite; and a check of sample coordinates against the Company's GPS records. Mr. Gelber has not visited the Agboville license and relied on field documentation prepared by the Company's geologists. Grab samples are selective by nature and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property. The Qualified Person did not identify any failure to verify the data and considers the data adequate for the purposes of this news release.

Qualified Person

The technical and scientific information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Benjamin Gelber, P.Geo., a Consultant of the Company and a practicing Professional Geologist registered with Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC, Licence No. 33258), who is a non-independent "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Lithium Africa Corp.

Lithium Africa Corp. is a capital-efficient lithium exploration and consolidation company assembling a portfolio of hard-rock lithium assets across Africa. Through its 50/50 joint venture with GFL International Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd., the Company holds an indirect 50% interest in lithium exploration projects in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Mali. The Company also holds a majority interest in the Springbok Project in South Africa, which is held outside the joint venture. For more information, please visit www.li-africa.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LITHIUM AFRICA CORP.

Thomas R. Benson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer & Director

For further information regarding the Company contact:

Jeanne Liu, Corporate Communications at investors@li-africa.com, 1.604.771.7125.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements relating to the Company's planned exploration and evaluation activities, including the resumption and completion of the drill program at Adzopé and the timing of results, planned trenching, auger drilling and mapping at Agboville, the regional mapping, geochronology and geochemistry program, the characterization of the Adzopé and Agboville licenses as a district, the Sikensi application, and community and permitting matters. There is significant risk that the forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate, that the management's assumptions may not be correct and that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Generally forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect which, without limiting the generality of the following, include: the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; risks inherent in exploration activities; the impact of exploration competition; unexpected geological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. Except as required by applicable securities laws and regulation, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

APPENDIX A - Kanien Trend Spodumene-Bearing Pegmatite Rock Sample Results

Nineteen rock samples of spodumene-bearing pegmatite were collected along the Kanien Trend between May 2025 and May 2026 and are tabulated below. Li₂O is calculated from Li using a factor of 2.153. Coordinates are WGS 84 / UTM Zone 30N.

Sample ID	Li2O (%)	Easting (m)	Northing (m)
LOV_055	1.98	352,950	660,943
LOV_028	1.79	354,305	663,197
LOV_027	1.66	354,271	663,196
LOV_014	1.66	354,438	663,296
LOV_054	1.66	352,941	660,942
LOV_035*	1.42	353,589	662,917
LOV_064	1.40	352,988	660,925
LOV_034	1.37	354,328	663,199
LOV_029	1.31	354,334	663,196
LOV_058	1.12	352,985	660,925
LOV_016	1.09	354,456	663,293
LOV_036*	1.06	353,675	661,226
LOV_020	1.06	354,338	663,209
LOV_026	1.01	354,271	663,179
LOV_057	0.98	352,942	660,939
LOV_019	0.91	354,462	663,285
LOV_025	0.83	354,263	663,173
LOV_050	0.81	354,275	663,059
LOV_013	0.60	354,435	663,294
* Float sample.

 

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¹ Currently, the District comprises the granted Adzopé (85.32 km²) and Agboville (399.27 km²) research permits. There is no assurance that the Sikensi permit (367.79 km²) will be granted.

² Atlantic Lithium's news releases dated May 22, 2025 and October 20, 2025 contain information about adjacent properties on which the Company has no right to explore or mine. Mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. The Qualified Person has not been able to verify any data relating to exploration results on adjacent properties as it is not within the control of the Company.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314546

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How extensive is Lithium Africa’s current land position in the Adzopé District?

The Adzopé District currently comprises the granted Adzopé research permit (85.32 km²) and the Agboville research permit (399.27 km²), together about 485 km². A further 367.79 km² Sikensi permit is under application, but there is no assurance it will be granted.

What is the status and timing of drilling on the Saby Trend at Adzopé?

The planned 2,000 m reverse circulation program on the Saby Trend was paused for the rainy season after 1,137 m had been completed. Drilling is expected to resume in the coming weeks, and assay results, including QA/QC, are targeted for release in Q4 2026 once received and validated by the Qualified Person.

What share issuances did Lithium Africa complete in connection with fees and debt settlement?

The company issued 77,753 common shares at a deemed price of C$1.78 per share to an arm’s length consultant as the second and final tranche, valued at US$100,000, of the finder’s fee for acquiring Namli Exploration & Mining. It also issued 10,000 common shares at a deemed price of C$1.50 per share under a debt settlement agreement dated July 6, 2026. All shares are subject to a four-month-plus-one-day hold period and were approved by the TSX Venture Exchange.

How were the Kanien Trend rock samples collected and analyzed?

Company geologists collected 19 grab samples (including some float) from spodumene-bearing pegmatites between May 2025 and May 2026, with GPS-located positions. Samples were prepared at Intertek Minerals in Tarkwa, Ghana, and analyzed at Intertek Genalysis in Perth, Australia, by four-acid digest with ICP-MS, with over-range lithium (>5,000 ppm Li) reanalyzed by four-acid digest and ICP-OES. Li₂O values were calculated from lithium using a factor of 2.153.

What QA/QC procedures and limitations did the company disclose for this sampling program?

Blanks (cement) and certified reference materials were inserted with the rock samples, and the program also included laboratory control blanks and check assays. Some issues were noted: one CRM standard (OREAS 45h) returned outside expected lithium tolerance, OREAS 752 exceeded the upper limit of the primary method in two batches without over-range re-assay, and field blanks showed slightly elevated lithium versus detection limit. No independent field-duplicate program or second-lab check assays have yet been implemented. The company stated that these issues do not materially affect its interpretation of the reported results.