Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT) has defined a maiden resource estimate at the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project in Canada, revealing the “world’s largest pollucite-hosted caesium pegmatite deposit”.
The Rigel Zone has an indicated resource of 163,000 tonnes @ 10.25% caesium oxide, 1.78% lithium oxide and 646 parts per million (ppm) tantalum pentoxide.
Meanwhile the Vega Zone has an indicated resource of 530,000 tonnes @ 2.61% caesium oxide, 2.23% lithium oxide and 172ppm tantalum pentoxide, as well as an inferred resource of 1.698 million tonnes @ 2.40% caesium oxide, 1.81% lithium oxide, and 245ppm tantalum pentoxide.
The total contained caesium content of 30,500 tonnes caesium oxide in the indicated category and 40,800 tonnes caesium oxide in the inferred category.
Patriot Battery says the caesium resources from both zones are included within the CV13 pegmatite open-pit resource which forms part of the consolidated resource for Shaakichiuwaanaan.
As such, the total indicated resource contains 108 million tonnes @ 1.40% lithium oxide, 0.11% caesium oxide, 166ppm tantalum pentoxide and 66ppm gallium, while the total inferred resource contains 33.4 million tonnes @ 1.33% lithium oxide, 0.21% caesium oxide, 155ppm tantalum pentoxide and 65ppm gallium.
Vice President of Exploration Darren Smith says the company has now defined the largest reported occurrence of pollucite in the world – by a significant margin.
“To find a pollucite-hosted caesium deposit of this scale and grade is exceptionally rare, with only three deposits globally known to have produced this extremely high-value critical and strategic mineral,” Smith says.
“The pegmatites of the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project continue to demonstrate their unique, world-class nature for hosting abundant and varied critical minerals.”
CEO Ken Brinsden says this resource is a reflection of the deposit’s geology, which hosts lithium, tantalum, and now caesium.
“Given the scale, grade, and proximity to the CV5 pegmatite, the new caesium discovery at Rigel and Vega has already added further substantial value to the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project,” Brinsden says.
“Shaakichiuwaanaan stands to play a driving role in the growth of this exciting new market. As we finalise the maiden lithium-only Feasibility Study for the CV5 pegmatite, we are excited to start work on unlocking the enormous potential of the caesium resource.”
Patriot Battery has begun evaluating options to advance and incorporate the caesium opportunity at CV13 as a potential additional saleable product into the overall economic development of the project.
The activities will include various environmental baseline studies and additional drilling. This work will follow after completing the lithium-only Feasibility Study on CV5.
Patriot Battery has also begun industry engagement with end users of caesium, as well as initiated a scoping metallurgical program targeting pollucite mineral recovery using conventional x-ray ore sorting methods. This work will inform a more expansive test program that will include subsequent recovery of lithium and tantalum.
Further, the company is on track to deliver a maiden ore reserve at CV5 in Q3 2025.
Patriot Battery Metals is a hard-rock lithium explorer focused on advancing the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Patriot Battery Metals
