Patriot Battery Metals unlocks tantalum as byproduct of Quebec project

Patriot Battery Metals (TSX: PMET; ASX: PMT) says work streams are currently underway to unlock critical mineral tantalum that is present in abundance at its Shaakichiuwaanaan property, located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec.Tantalum, which is primarily hosted in the mineral tantalite on the property, has been commercially recovered from LCT (lithium, cesium and tantalum) pegmatites historically and at active mining operations today (e.g., Greenbushes, Pilgangoora, Wodgina and Tanco).This potentially de-risks the pathway to recover tantalum at Shaakichiuwaanaan, the company said.Further bolstering this potential is the ranking of the mineral resource at Shaakichiuwaanaan as a top 5 tantalum pegmatite in the world in terms of both grade and tonnage: 108 million tonnes at 1.40% Li2O and 166 ppm Ta2O5 indicated, plus 33.3 million tonnes at 1.33% Li2O and 156 ppm Ta2O5 inferred.This resource, according to Patriot, equates to contained tantalum content of 23,104 tonnes (50.9 million lb.).High gradesAs is common in LCT pegmatites, the tantalum mineralization is zoned within the wider pegmatite body and often overlaps with lithium mineralization zonation. Very high-grade tantalum zones are present within the deposit, which may overlap with high-grade lithium zones. Drill intersections include:9.6 m at 0.94% Li2O and 2,307 ppm Ta2O5 (CV23-271) – CV139.5 m at 1.12% Li2O and 1,538 ppm Ta2O5 (CV24-441) – CV522.7 m at 2.79% Li2O and 972 ppm Ta2O5 (CV24-661) – CV522.9 m at 2.58% Li2O and 621 ppm Ta2O5 (CV23-181) – CV5Through the lithium-focused exploration and resource development drilling completed to date at the property, Patriot has identified other high-value critical metal potential byproducts in addition to the existing large-scale lithium mineral resource at Shaakichiuwaanaan, namely cesium, tantalum and gallium.The current phase of tantalum recovery tests at SGS Canada’s Ontario facility are anticipated to be completed in the coming weeks and are focused on recovery from the lithium process waste streams, the company said, adding that this work will allow for a preliminary understanding of process design to be developed and an estimate of the overall concentrate grade and recovery expected.A follow-up program is planned that will include further assessment as a potential “bolt-on” recovery circuit to the primary lithium recovery circuit, as well as targeting optimizations of the process.The company is also actively engaged with potential end-users and supply chain participants to further develop the economic opportunity in the tantalum products anticipated to be derived from the project.The lithium-only feasibility study based on the CV5 mineral resource component of the Shaakichiuwaanaan project is on track for completion in the third quarter of 2025, and it remains the near-term focus for the company.The economic potential in critical metal byproducts will be assessed once the lithium-only feasibility study is completed, with various studies concurrently underway to better evaluate the opportunities present for cesium, tantalum and gallium specifically, Patriot said.Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com