Ophir Metals (TSX-V:OPHR) has expanded the area of known caesium mineralisation at the HW3 pegmatite within the Pilipas Project in Québec, Canada, after conducting a channel sampling program.
The program, which was completed in early December 2024, returned results that confirmed the presence of “high-grade” caesium across the HW3 pegmatite with elevated levels of lithium and tantalum.
Some of the channel intervals at HW3 include 1.4m @ 6% caesium monoxide, including 0.5m @ 12.4% caesium monoxide, and 5m @ 1.46% caesium monoxide, including 1m @ 5.30% caesium monoxide.
As a result, Ophir Metals says there are defined zones of enrichment in the northern portion of the pegmatite outcrop. The HW3 pegmatite remains open in multiple directions.
CEO Shawn Westcott says the results are what the company had hoped to achieve and highlights an exciting year for Ophir and the Pilipas Project.
“The identification and further expansion of the high-grade caesium at HW3 showcases the project’s multi-commodity potential and provides guidance for the 2025 exploration season,” Westcott says.
Ophir Metals is a diversified mineral explorer focused on the development of its Pilipas Project, which sits in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec.
The Pilipas Project is located proximal to existing hydroelectric power that flanks the property to the east, and is situated in “highly prospective” greenstone terrain.
In Canada, caesium is listed as an official critical mineral and has multiple commercial applications from drilling fluids to a variety of chemical and electric applications.
The US has low-grade deposits of caesium ore in South Dakota and Maine, which are currently not economical to mine, according to the Minerals Education Coalition. As such, the US imports 100% of the caesium it uses primarily from Canada. Due to the lack of supply, one of the primary caesium mines’ in operation is the Tanco Mine in Manitoba, Canada.
Other nations that produce caesium are South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Ophir Metals
