Ophir Metals (TSX-V:OPHR) is preparing to drill a “high-grade” caesium discovery at the HW3 Pegmatite on the Pilipas lithium property in the Eeyou Istchee region of James Bay, Québec.
Caesium is found in association with lithium and tantalum, with all three metals declared critical by Canada and other countries, and most commercial production of caesium is as a byproduct of lithium production.
Caesium is used in environmentally drilling fluids, atomic clocks, global positioning systems, aircraft guidance systems and 5G internet and mobile phone transmission systems.
Preparations for drilling come just a few months after Ophir expanded the area of known caesium mineralisation during channel sampling.
The program returned results of 1.4m @ 6% caesium, including 0.5m @ 12.4%, and 5m @ 1.46%, including 1m @ 5.3%.
Channel sampling determined the surface area of the caesium enrichment is roughly 11m by 4m, while the HW3 Pegmatite measures about 15m by 23m in size.
Drilling will begin in the first week of June and comprise 1,000m focused on testing the known caesium zone at depth and to the south, where the pegmatite remains open.
CEO Shawn Westcott says HW3 is one of only a select few pegmatites in the James Bay region to host high-grade caesium, which makes it “both very rare and an incredibly attractive drill target”.
Ophir Metals, which has a market capitalisation of C$3.96 million ($4.44 million), is a diversified explorer focused on the exploration and development of the Pilipas Caesium and Lithium Project in Québec.
The company has a three-year option to earn a 70% interest in the Pilipas project, which is covered by 135 claims spanning 7,100 hectares.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Ophir Metals
