Drill samples point to cesium deposit: Grid Metals

An exploration company says it has found cesium — a rare critical mineral — in southeast Manitoba.

Toronto-based Grid Metals Corp. recently viewed sample results from its Falcon West Cesium property, roughly 110 kilometres east of Winnipeg. One hole showed the highest cesium grade-thickness intercept ever found on site.

“It was quite significant,” said Robin Dunbar, Grid Metals chief executive. “There’s hardly any sources around in the world.”

The grades found in the first drill holes are “very high” by world standards, Dunbar added.

Cesium is used in the defence sector, solar panels, internet and phone networks and GPS satellites, among other things.

Grid Metals plans to drill approximately 70 holes on a pegmatite on its property. Findings announced this month come from the first five assays, or sample tests. All results should be in by January, Dunbar said.

The current exploration area spans 150 metres by 40 m. It’s on Sagkeeng First Nation’s lands; leadership has inked an exploration agreement with Grid Metals.

“It’s great news,” MaryAnn Mihychuk, president of the Manitoba Prospector and Developers Association, said of the findings. “They’re doing the right steps by proofing out another deposit.”

The Falcon West property is one of four Grid Metals is exploring in southeastern Manitoba. Earlier this year, the company signed an option deal with the Tantalum Mining Corp. of Canada (Tanco).

Through the deal, Tanco will spend between $300,000 and $1.2 million on a cesium drilling campaign in the Bird River area, at Grid’s Donner property. Tanco has the right to purchase 10,000 tonnes of cesium-bearing material from Grid in exchange.

Tanco oversees Manitoba’s only cesium plant. The mine is roughly 135 km northeast of Winnipeg, at Bernic Lake.

— Gabrielle Piché