Work Programs Commence to Unlock Tantalum as a High-Value By-Pro

Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (OTCQX:PMETF) has commenced work programs at its Shaakichiuwaanaan Property in Quebec to explore the potential of recovering tantalum as a high-value by-product. The property is recognized as a top-5 tantalum pegmatite globally based on grade and tonnage, featuring an indicated resource of 108.0 million tonnes at 1.40% Li2O and 166 ppm Ta2O5, and an inferred resource of 33.3 million tonnes at 1.33% Li2O and 156 ppm Ta2O5.

Initial test programs at the site have successfully yielded a tantalite concentrate grading approximately 19% Ta2O5. The company plans to integrate tantalum recovery into its operations using conventional methods, following the completion of its lithium-only Feasibility Study in the third quarter of 2025. The Shaakichiuwaanaan project showcases high-grade drill intersections, including up to 2,307 ppm Ta2O5, underscoring its significant potential for tantalum recovery as a by-product.

The current market price for tantalum is around US$239 per kilogram, with a market growth forecast of 4-6% CAGR through the decade's end. Patriot Battery Metals aims to harness this opportunity by leveraging the property's exceptional mineral resource base, which also includes lithium as a primary focus, along with other critical metals like caesium and gallium.

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