Patriot Battery Metals unlocks tantalum as byproduct of Quebec project

Patriot Battery Metals (TSX: PMET; ASX: PMT) claims job streams are presently underway to unlock important mineral tantalum that exists in wealth at its Shaakichiuwaanaan home, situated in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay area of Quebec.

Tantalum, which is mostly held in the mineral tantalite on the home, has actually been readily recouped from LCT (lithium, cesium and tantalum) pegmatites traditionally and at energetic mining procedures today ( e.g., Greenbushes, Pilgangoora, Wodgina and Tanco).

This possibly de-risks the path to recuperate tantalum at Shaakichiuwaanaan, the firm stated.

More strengthening this capacity is the position of the mineral source at Shaakichiuwaanaan as a leading 5 tantalum pegmatite worldwide in regards to both quality and tonnage: 108 million tonnes at 1.40% Li ₂ O and 166 ppm Ta ₂ O ₅ showed, plus 33.3 million tonnes at 1.33% Li ₂ O and 156 ppm Ta ₂ O ₅ presumed.

This source, according to Patriot, corresponds to had tantalum web content of 23,104 tonnes (50.9 million pound.).

High qualities

As prevails in LCT pegmatites, the tantalum mineralization is zoned within the broader pegmatite body and typically overlaps with lithium mineralization zonation. Extremely top-quality tantalum areas exist within the down payment, which might overlap with top-quality lithium areas. Pierce junctions consist of:

• 9.6 m at 0.94% Li ₂ O and 2,307 ppm Ta ₂ O ₅ ( CV23-271)– CV13
• 9.5 m at 1.12% Li ₂ O and 1,538 ppm Ta ₂ O ₅ ( CV24-441)– CV5
• 22.7 m at 2.79% Li ₂ O and 972 ppm Ta ₂ O ₅ ( CV24-661)– CV5
• 22.9 m at 2.58% Li ₂ O and 621 ppm Ta ₂ O ₅ ( CV23-181)– CV5

Via the lithium-focused expedition and source advancement exploration finished to day at the home, Patriot has actually determined various other high-value important steel possible results along with the existing large lithium mineral source at Shaakichiuwaanaan, specifically cesium, tantalum and gallium.

The existing stage of tantalum healing examinations at SGS Canada’s Ontario center are prepared for to be finished in the coming weeks and are concentrated on healing from the lithium procedure waste streams, the firm stated, including that this job will certainly enable an initial understanding of procedure style to be created and a price quote of the general concentrate quality and healing anticipated.

A follow-up program is prepared that will certainly consist of more analysis as a prospective “bolt-on” healing circuit to the main lithium healing circuit, along with targeting optimizations of the procedure.

The firm is likewise proactively involved with possible end-users and supply chain individuals to more create the financial chance in the tantalum items prepared for to be originated from the job.

The lithium-only expediency research study based upon the CV5 mineral source part of the Shaakichiuwaanaan job gets on track for conclusion in the 3rd quarter of 2025, and it stays the near-term emphasis for the firm.

The financial capacity in important steel results will certainly be evaluated when the lithium-only expediency research study is finished, with different researches simultaneously underway to far better review the chances existing for cesium, tantalum and gallium especially, Patriot stated.