Tantalum Recovery at Shaakichiuwaanaan Could Reshape Project Economics and Market Position

Tantalum Emerges as Valuable By-Product at Shaakichiuwaanaan

PMET Resources Inc. has announced a significant milestone in its Shaakichiuwaanaan Project in Quebec, successfully producing a marketable tantalite concentrate from bench-scale testwork on the CV5 Pegmatite. This development highlights tantalum as a promising by-product alongside the project’s primary lithium focus, potentially enhancing the overall economics of the operation.

The testwork, conducted on dense media separation (DMS) waste streams, achieved tantalum grades up to 8.7% Ta2O5 with global recoveries approaching 49%. These results align well with industry peers and were obtained using conventional, low-cost mineral processing techniques such as gravity separation and flotation. Importantly, the tantalum recovery process is designed as a bolt-on circuit that will not affect lithium recovery, preserving the primary product’s value.

A Globally Significant Tantalum Resource

Shaakichiuwaanaan ranks among the largest tantalum pegmatite mineral resources worldwide, boasting an indicated resource of 108 million tonnes at 166 ppm Ta2O5 and an inferred resource of 33 million tonnes at 155 ppm Ta2O5. This scale and grade position the project as a potential key supplier of tantalum, a critical metal used in electronics, aerospace, and emerging technologies such as quantum computing and 5G infrastructure.

Given tantalum’s strategic importance and the current global supply challenges, particularly the reliance on conflict-affected regions in Africa, PMET’s ability to produce tantalum from a stable, conflict-free North American source could be a game changer for supply chains seeking ethical and secure materials.

Advancing Towards Economic Integration

The company is advancing further testwork programs to refine the tantalum recovery circuit design and support its inclusion in future economic studies. While the current focus remains on completing the lithium-only Feasibility Study for the CV5 Pegmatite, targeted for release within the next 4-6 weeks, tantalum’s potential as a by-product is gaining momentum as a value-enhancing opportunity.

PMET is also engaging with potential end-users and supply chain participants to develop the tantalum product’s market potential. The integration of tantalum recovery could diversify revenue streams and improve project resilience against lithium market fluctuations.

Environmental and Regulatory Outlook

Environmental and social impact assessments are underway alongside the feasibility study, with the company maintaining a clear path toward mine authorization. The tantalum circuit’s addition will require separate feasibility and environmental approvals, but the company’s approach of recovering tantalum from waste streams suggests a minimal environmental footprint increase.

Overall, PMET Resources is positioning Shaakichiuwaanaan not only as a major lithium project but also as a critical minerals powerhouse with multiple valuable by-products, including tantalum, caesium, and gallium.