How Patriot Battery Metals’ Shaakichiuwaanaan Resource Jump Could Reshape Lithium Supply

Resource Upgrade Highlights Shaakichiuwaanaan’s Growing Significance

Patriot Battery Metals Inc. has delivered a landmark update to its Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Lithium Project in Quebec, Canada. The consolidated estimate, covering the CV5 and CV13 spodumene pegmatites, reveals a striking increase in Indicated Resources, approximately 30% at CV5 and an extraordinary 306% at CV13 compared to the August 2024 figures. This upgrade positions Shaakichiuwaanaan as the largest lithium pegmatite Indicated Mineral Resource in the Americas, with a total of 108 million tonnes at 1.40% lithium oxide (Li2O).

The project’s lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) content now stands at 3.75 million tonnes Indicated and 1.09 million tonnes Inferred, underscoring its scale and potential to supply critical raw materials for the burgeoning battery industry. The high-grade Nova Zone at CV5 and the Vega Zone at CV13 have been fully delineated to Indicated status, with notable improvements in size and lithium grade, enhancing the project's economic prospects.

Advancing Toward Feasibility and Production

Patriot remains on schedule to deliver its maiden Ore Reserve and Feasibility Study for the CV5 spodumene pegmatite by the third quarter of 2025. This milestone will be pivotal in transitioning the project from exploration to development, providing a detailed economic framework for potential production. The updated MRE covers a combined strike length of 6.9 kilometres, with both pegmatites remaining open in multiple directions, suggesting further upside potential through ongoing drilling.

The company’s approach leverages a Dense Media Separation (DMS) process, supported by metallurgical testwork demonstrating high lithium recoveries and concentrate grades. This simple processing method aligns with the project's goal of delivering a competitive, high-grade lithium concentrate to North American and European markets, where supply security is increasingly critical.

Strategic By-Products Enhance Project Value

Beyond lithium, the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project hosts significant quantities of tantalum, gallium, and cesium, metals recognized for their strategic importance in high-tech and clean energy applications. The tantalum content ranks the project among the top five tantalum pegmatite resources globally, with ongoing metallurgical programs exploring recovery from lithium processing tailings.

Gallium, newly included in the MRE, presents an emerging opportunity, with the company investigating extraction methods from lithium waste streams. Cesium mineralization, discovered recently at CV13, is not yet included in the current MRE but is expected to feature in a future update following further geological modelling and assay results.

Robust Geological Foundation and Quality Assurance

The resource upgrade is underpinned by an extensive drilling campaign comprising over 800 diamond drill holes totaling more than 230,000 metres, complemented by channel sampling and rigorous geological modelling. The MRE adheres to internationally recognized standards (NI 43-101 and JORC 2012), with classification criteria ensuring high confidence in the reported Indicated and Inferred categories.

Patriot’s technical team, supported by independent experts, has validated the geological continuity and grade distribution, with quality control protocols ensuring data integrity. The project’s location in Quebec offers year-round access and proximity to infrastructure, further enhancing its development potential.

Positioning Shaakichiuwaanaan as a Tier-1 Lithium Asset

With this significant resource expansion and the inclusion of critical by-products, Shaakichiuwaanaan firmly establishes itself as a Tier-1, world-class lithium pegmatite asset. The project’s scale, grade, and strategic metal content align with global demand trends for battery materials and critical minerals, positioning Patriot Battery Metals as a key player in the North American and European supply chains.

As the company advances toward feasibility and potential production, the market will be watching closely for further updates on resource growth, by-product recoveries, and regulatory progress.