Alaska Energy Metals Corporation announced its plans to carry out a H₂ soil gas survey over a portion of its Angliers-Belleterre Project (Angliers) in Quebec to determine if the project holds potential for natural, white H₂ accumulations. Recent soil gas sample data released by adjacent claim owner Quebec Innovative Materials Corporation illustrates the potential for H₂ accumulations to occur within the Lake Timiskaming Basin of western Quebec, which intersects with various parts of the Baby Greenstone Belt on AEMC’s Angliers claim block. The accumulation of H₂ in the basin is likely to occur from the serpentinization of iron-rich basement rocks of the Baby Greenstone Belt, which consist of serpentinite, komatiite, basalt, peridotite, and iron formation.

“AEMC acquired the Angliers project for its nickel-copper potential and has been doing exploration aimed at those commodities. We will continue to advance the nickel-copper targets that we’ve identified. However, we are excited to learn of the H₂ soil gas anomaly discovery in the Lake Timiskaming Basin made by our claim neighbors, Quebec Innovative Materials Corporation,” said Alaska Energy Metals Chief Geoscientist Gabe Graf.

“Natural H₂ has gained prominence as a potential contributor to the low carbon energy landscape. Both the industry and governments worldwide have shown a growing interest in natural H₂ exploration, which may form an important part of the future energy mix. The formation of white H₂ requires the correct rock types and geologic processes to create the H₂ gas, gas migration pathways, and geologic traps or reservoirs at which the gas may accumulate. It appears we may have these features on our claims. Our planned work will help determine if there is indeed potential for white H₂ gas on our claims.”

The company plans to collect approximately 400 soil gas samples across six lines on its claim block. Five of these lines will be collected near the interpreted contact of the Lake Timiskaming Basin with the Baby Greenstone Belt, where the company believes the fracture density and deep-seated faulting may be sufficient to allow a pathway for H₂, created during serpentinization to reach the surface. H₂ detected in soil may be indicative of H₂ gas trapped below surface. In addition, one line of samples will be collected over onsite serpentinite, komatiite, iron formation, and basaltic rocks to analyze the potential for H₂ creation outside of the basin.