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| Patriot Battery Metals caesium |
Quebec’s Shaakichiuwaanaan site emerges as new global benchmark for strategic caesium and lithium resources
Patriot Battery Metals has confirmed the world’s largest pollucite-hosted caesium deposit at its Shaakichiuwaanaan lithium property in Quebec, Canada. The newly released mineral resource estimate (MRE) identifies high-grade caesium, lithium, and tantalum at the Rigel and Vega zones within the CV13 pegmatite. This positions the site as a strategic asset for critical mineral supply chains across North America and beyond.
Rigel and Vega Zones Define Global-Scale Caesium Resource
The Rigel Zone contains an indicated resource of 163,000 tonnes at 10.25% Cs₂O, while the Vega Zone hosts an indicated 530,000 tonnes at 2.61% Cs₂O, plus 1.7 million tonnes inferred at 2.40% Cs₂O. These figures confirm a total caesium metal content of 30,500 tonnes indicated and 40,800 tonnes inferred, making it the largest known pollucite-hosted deposit worldwide.
In contrast, most global caesium resources remain small or uneconomic. Therefore, Patriot’s discovery significantly alters the strategic metals landscape, particularly for caesium applications in oilfield services, atomic timekeeping, and telecommunications.
Co-Recovery Potential Strengthens Project Economics
Patriot’s CV13 pegmatite not only holds world-class pollucite-hosted caesium, but also features high-grade lithium (Li₂O) and tantalum (Ta₂O₅) suitable for co-recovery. The consolidated MRE across CV5 and CV13 now totals 108 million tonnes indicated and 33.4 million tonnes inferred, with consistent grades in Li₂O (1.33–1.40%), Cs₂O, and Ta₂O₅.
Meanwhile, the Rigel Zone spans 200m × 100m at shallow depths, while Vega’s caesium zone stretches 800m × 250m with multiple lenses, one up to 80 metres thick. These geometries improve open-pit mining potential, further enhancing downstream value for critical metal refiners.
ScrapInsight Commentary
Patriot Battery's confirmation of the largest pollucite-hosted caesium deposit shifts supply chain dynamics for critical rare metals. With rising demand in energy tech and defense sectors, this Canadian asset could disrupt long-term pricing and reduce dependency on Chinese caesium supply. The co-production of Li and Ta underscores the project’s alignment with circular resource optimization and strategic material resilience.
