Ahead of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), Q2 Metals (TSX-V:QTWO) is expecting to transition from an early-stage explorer to resource-stage within the next nine to 10 months.
During the first quarter of 2026, Q2 Metals expects to release the inaugural inferred resource, which investor relations manager Jason McBride says “will put official numbers to the project and define its position among other globally significant hard-rock lithium projects”.
“Later in the year, we expect to announce a preliminary economic assessment, which we anticipate will propel Cisco to that of a development story rather than exploration,” McBride tells Mining.com.au.
“That said, there remains tremendous exploration upside both around the main mineralised area and across the broader project area and we expect to drill test some of those prospective areas over the coming months as well.”
PDAC, held from 1-4 March 2026 in Toronto, is an annual convention that hosts more than 1,300 exhibitors and 700 presenters. Mining.com.au is a media partner of this year’s convention.
At the convention, Q2 Metals will focus on having face-to-face meetings with long-term stakeholders while also fostering existing and potential new relationships with larger financial institutions and strategic partners.
“We’re getting the story out there as far and wide as possible is our focus and those efforts really kick into high gear starting with PDAC,” McBride says.
McBride notes that 2026 will continue to be shaped around uncertainty – with gold and silver likely to continue to be at the centre stage.
As previously reported, gold and silver have surpassed several records at the beginning of 2026 – touching as high as around US$5,419 and US$116 an ounce, respectively.
“The fundamentals that pushed both to new highs still appear to be in place so, for investors, all eyes will now likely be on how global conflicts are playing out, the US Federal Reserve and its new Chairman and, the current administration as mid-term elections approach later in the year,” McBride adds.
Q2 Metals currently has four drill rigs operating at Cisco. In January 2026, the company extended mineralisation at Cisco, with results returning 179.2m @ 1.24% lithium oxide and 15.7m @ 1.48% lithium oxide, extending the system to the north at shallow depths.
The company says there may be additional corporate updates as it embarks on its transition to a resource-stage company, focusing on engineering, economics and permitting.
“2026 will be another exciting year for Q2 and we look forward to keeping the market updated as we progress,” McBride says.
Q2 Metals is a Canadian mineral explorer focused on unlocking its portfolio of lithium projects in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Q2 Metals
