Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT) has confirmed pollucite as the principal mineral host for the caesium discovery at the Vega and Rigel zones within the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project in Canada.
Pollucite is the only mineral with caesium as an essential part of its composition. It is a semi-precious mineral that is used for caesium format — which is used in various industries including pharmaceutical, military, and medical fields.
The company identified up to 75% of pollucite in an individual core sample which returned 1.1m @ 26.6% caesium monoxide.
As a result, Patriot has completed collecting drill core samples from the Vega Zone for an ore sorting test program, which will evaluate pollucite concentrate recovery ahead of the typical lithium and tantalum recovery circuits.
CEO Ken Brinsden says as the company advances towards a preliminary mineral processing program, Patriot is also working on a maiden resource estimate for caesium to be released in Q3 2025.
“The presence of significant caesium mineralisation at Shaakichiuwaanaan, in addition to lithium and tantalum, reinforces the amazing endowment of the geology and the potential for other critical and strategic metals to further enhance and diversify future project economics,” Brinsden says.
Patriot notes the Feasibility Study for Shaakichiuwaanaan is on track for completion in Q3 2025. The economic potential in critical metal by-products will be assessed thereafter, with various studies underway concurrently to better evaluate the opportunities present for caesium, tantalum and gallium specifically.
The Shaakichiuwaanaan Project, covering 23,710 hectares, is located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Patriot Battery Metals
