Winsome Resources Advances High-Grade Cesium Hunt at Sirmac-Clapier
Winsome Resources has resumed targeted exploration for high-grade cesium mineralisation at its Sirmac-Clapier Project in Quebec, aiming to define drill targets following promising 2024 results.
- Resumption of close spaced sampling at Sirmac-Clapier to delineate cesium zones
- Initial 2024 sampling returned up to 5.44% Cs2O, indicating high-grade mineralisation
- Project accessible via existing tracks, near key infrastructure and lithium deposits
- Results expected in 6–8 weeks to guide maiden drilling program
- Winsome holds strategic stakes and offtake rights in related critical mineral projects
Exploration Reignited at Sirmac-Clapier
Winsome Resources (ASX – WR1) has announced the recommencement of its cesium-focused exploration program at the 100% owned Sirmac-Clapier Project in Quebec’s Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This next phase involves detailed, close spaced sampling of the discovery outcrop where last year’s fieldwork revealed exceptionally high-grade lithium-cesium mineralisation, including cesium oxide (Cs2O) values peaking at 5.44%.
The renewed fieldwork aims to better delineate the extent and continuity of these high-grade cesium zones, which will be critical in defining precise drill targets for upcoming programs. Importantly, the project’s accessibility via existing ATV-suitable tracks and proximity; just 30km; to provincial road and rail infrastructure enhances operational feasibility.
Building on Promising 2024 Discoveries
Initial channel sampling in late 2024 identified a spodumene-bearing pegmatite with significant lithium and cesium grades, including a standout 26-meter interval averaging 2.69% lithium oxide (Li2O) and 1.15% Cs2O. Within this interval, shorter sections exhibited even higher cesium concentrations, suggesting pollucite as the primary cesium mineral, pending mineralogical confirmation.
This high-grade mineralisation is rare globally, with only a handful of cesium deposits mined worldwide. Winsome’s exploration strategy includes sampling additional outcrops identified through LiDAR and aerial imagery, focusing on a northeast-trending pegmatite system that aligns with regional discoveries by neighbouring explorers.
Strategic Position in Critical Minerals
Cesium is a scarce and strategically important mineral, used in various high-tech applications. Winsome’s Sirmac-Clapier Project, combined with its equity stake and offtake rights in Power Metals Corp’s Case Lake Project in Ontario, positions the company strongly within the critical minerals sector. This diversified exposure to lithium, tantalum, and cesium resources enhances Winsome’s potential value proposition for investors.
Fieldwork is expected to take two to three weeks, with assay results anticipated within six to eight weeks. These results will inform the design of a maiden drilling campaign, a key step toward resource definition and potential development.
Looking Ahead
Winsome’s Managing Director, Chris Evans, emphasised the company’s excitement about advancing this unique opportunity, highlighting the potential to expand the scale of cesium mineralisation and deliver value to shareholders. The company’s broader portfolio, including the flagship Adina Lithium Project and the Renard Operation option, further underscores its ambition to become a significant player in North America’s critical minerals landscape.
Bottom Line?
As Winsome awaits assay results, the market will watch closely to see if Sirmac-Clapier can deliver on its promise as a rare, high-grade cesium source.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming assays confirm and expand the high-grade cesium zones at surface?
- How will Winsome prioritise drill targets based on the new sampling data?
- What are the implications of pollucite confirmation for the project’s economics and processing?
