Patriot Battery Metals identifies significant caesium zones at Shaakichiuwaanaan lithium project

Patriot Battery Metals (ASX: PMT) has used a review of historical drill core assays to identify multiple areas of considerable caesium enrichment at its Shaakichiuwaanaan project in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada.

Due to its increasing role in cancer treatment, atomic clocks, drilling fluids and other applications, TechNavio is forecasting 2.7% compound annual growth in the caesium market between 2023 and 2028.

Located in a prime critical minerals location, Shaakichiuwaanaan currently hosts a consolidated mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 80.1 million tonnes at 1.44% lithium oxide (Li₂O) indicated and 62.5Mt at 1.31% Li₂O inferred.

Rich neighbourhood

The review uncovering the caesium potential comes as Patriot undertakes feasibility studies on geological and block models for its prime spodumene pegmatite area, CV5.

CV5, which forms the bulk of the MRE, is situated approximately 14 kilometres from a major hydroelectric powerline corridor.

The CV13 pegmatite is located less than 3km along the geological trend from the CV5 pegmatite.

‘Very significant’ find

“The identification of multiple zones of extensive caesium mineralisation in drill holes at Shaakichiuwaanaan is very significant,” Patriot vice president of exploration Darren Smith said.

“Caesium pegmatite occurrences over 1% caesium oxide are very rare and represent only the most fractionated and evolved portion of a pegmatite body.”

“Although the focus for the company is lithium pegmatite and advancing CV5 to production, there is a clear opportunity to potentially delineate a pollucite (caesium) zone of significant scale.”

Complementary strategy

Patriot says it will further evaluate the potential of the caesium mineralisation at CV13 as a marketable by-product to complement the company’s lithium-focused development strategy.

“As the feasibility study for CV5 progresses, the company will assess the potential for a caesium resource at Shaakichiuwaanaan and its implications for future exploration and development,” Mr Smith said.

The company plans to use drill and surface sampling data to geologically model the zone of caesium enrichment within the wider pegmatite body at each of the main occurrences, with a focus on the Vega Zone area of CV13.

It will also add caesium to the block model to further assess the occurrences.