#Canada #Montreal #Shaakichiuwaanaan #PMET Resources #Caesium Concentrate

High-Quality Caesium Concentrate Achieved at Shaakichiuwaanaan

PMET Resources Inc. has recently announced the successful production of a marketable commercial-grade pollucite concentrate from the Vega Caesium Zone at the CV13 pegmatite, a significant milestone for the company.

Overview of the Testing Process

The concentrate, characterized by a substantial weight percentage of 11.9% Cs2O, was extracted through bench-scale X-Ray Transmission (XRT) ore sorting testwork, which enabled an impressive global recovery rate of 88%. The results stemmed from the combination of two distinct size fractions: one producing 20.0% Cs2O from the 12.5 to 25 mm fraction and the other yielding 11.5% Cs2O from sizes greater than 25 mm.

XRT ore sorting has emerged as a well-established, conventional method within the mining sector, recognized for its efficiency in processing coarse materials. Notably, it does not require water or chemical reagents, significantly reducing the environmental footprint—an essential factor in today’s sustainability-conscious market.

Advantages of XRT Ore Sorting

One of the critical advantages of the XRT process is the elimination of tailings, as it solely produces coarse, dry reject material. The reject output from the CV13 sorting process not only contains considerable quantities of lithium in the form of spodumene but also tantalum as tantalite, which stands to provide additional revenue streams via standard extraction techniques. As such, the technique not only benefits immediate caesium concentrate recovery but positions PMET for expanded future product lines.

Understanding the Deposit

The Rigel and Vega Zones within the Shaakichiuwaan project are acknowledged as the largest known mineral resource for pollucite-hosted caesium on a global scale, holding a considerable amount of indicated resources at 693,000 tons grading 4.40% Cs2O, alongside substantial lithium and tantalum reserves. The inferred resources are even more significant, amounting to 1.7 million tons with 2.40% Cs2O.

Darren L. Smith, PMET's Executive Vice President of Exploration, expressed enthusiasm about the results, noting that they validate the viability of the CV13 deposit to produce highly marketable pollucite concentrates. With strong recoveries and upgrades during initial test work, this lays a solid foundation for the advancement of the caesium project's commercial viability.

Future Prospects and Next Steps

The next phase of testing will involve a comprehensive exploration of coarser and finer size fractions to optimize the XRT circuit specifically for the unique characteristics of the CV13 deposit. Alongside this optimization, the exploration team will conduct further tests aimed at recovering lithium and tantalum from the reject materials. With discussions underway with potential end-users and participants in the supply chain, PMET is focused on establishing the economic opportunities for the caesium products generated from the project.

Overall, the successful extraction of caesium at the Shaakichiuwaan project is not just a notable achievement for PMET Resources but also represents a potential turning point in the sustainable sourcing of critical minerals necessary for green technologies. As the world shifts towards energy solutions requiring lithium, tantalum, and caesium, PMET's operations stand to meet growing global demands while supporting environmentally responsible practices.

Looking Forward

Given the rarity and high demand for caesium, the results of this study may significantly impact future operations and position PMET Resources as a leading player within the critical mineral sector. The company's continuous commitment to ensuring a robust and environmentally sound mining process will be crucial as they navigate the challenges of market dynamics and resource extraction.

As work progresses, more updates on the testing and future operations are expected, highlighting PMET Resources' role in shaping the future of critical mineral supply chains.