PMET Resources Inc. (PMET) has achieved a significant metallurgical milestone at its Shaakichiuwaanaan project in Quebec, reporting caesium recovery rates exceeding 97% during recent bench-scale testing. The results, derived from processing pollucite concentrate sourced from the project’s Vega Zone, confirm the technical viability of extracting caesium into a solution while maintaining control over key impurities like aluminum.

The company engaged two parallel testing programs to validate these extraction routes. Work conducted by SGS Canada successfully leached the concentrate using sulphuric acid, achieving the high recovery benchmark while identifying potential pathways to capture rubidium as a secondary by-product. Simultaneously, the company initiated a program with Koch Technology Solutions to evaluate proprietary flowsheet technology. Preliminary data from the first phase of this collaboration indicates that both synthetic and live pregnant leaching solutions show high selective loading factors, suggesting robust potential for commercial caesium recovery.

"Primary objective of program was fully realized - that being to identify a preliminary set of conditions to extract caesium from pollucite concentrate (produced from the Vega Zone) at high recovery while characterizing (and limiting) the impurity profile."

"The Company is motivated to consider caesium value-added chemical production (with key partners) to unlock maximum value from its globally significant caesium resource and its pollucite concentrates produced at site."

Management is now moving to the next stage of development, which involves a proof-of-concept phase aimed at producing gram-scale samples of high-purity caesium derivatives, including sulphate, carbonate, and formate. These results are currently slated for release around the fourth quarter of 2026.

This metallurgical success serves as a key component of the broader project evaluation as the company moves toward significant disclosure milestones. PMET is currently working toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the entire Shaakichiuwaanaan project, which will provide the first formal look at the project's caesium economics. This study is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, alongside the finalized Feasibility Study for the CV5 lithium-tantalum pegmatite.

Read the full announcement: PMET Demonstrates Greater Than 97% Caesium Extraction