Winsome Resources outlines next steps for Adina lithium project

Winsome Resources is working to seek out a strategic partner for its Adina lithium project within the James Bay region of Quebec “in the following six months”, in order that it could actually push ahead with further studies and, eventually, construction.

Adina, a tough rock spodumene lithium deposit first discovered in 2016, holds an estimated resource of 78 million tonnes (mt) at 1.12% lithium oxide. In keeping with a scoping study released by Winsome last September, Adina has a forecast average production of greater than 256,000 tonnes every year of spodumene concentrate over the 21-year lifetime of mine.

Winsome is hoping to amass and repurpose the prevailing infrastructure on the Renard diamond mine to process ore from Adina. It secured an option in April 2024 to amass Renard, positioned 60km south of the proposed lithium project.

“All of the infrastructure is there: an airport, an influence plant, accommodation – and most significantly the lithium processing plant. It may be converted easily and saves us around $500m on the capital cost of the total project,” Chris Evans, managing director of Winsome Resources, told Mining Technology during an interview at PDAC 2025 earlier in March.

The subsequent step for Winsome Resources, he says, is to secure a strategic partner that may support the following phases of the Adina project development.

“Since we published our initial studies last yr… now we have been searching for a strategic partner,” explains Evans.

“We would like a strategic partner on site to assist us develop our studies after which ultimately move into final investment decision and construction.”

Winsome has been running the method for “about 4 months” and expects to bring a partner on “in the following six months” to exercise the choice on the Renard mine, in response to Evans.

Winsome, an Australian company which, in response to its website, has an “established portfolio of exploration lithium projects within the James Bay Region of Quebec Province”, has until 31 May 2025 to act, otherwise exclusivity rights will likely be replaced with a right of first refusal over any alternative transaction.

Evans also says the corporate is working on its project feasibility study, which is anticipated to be accomplished across the middle of next yr.

Winsome also recently submitted the preliminary information statement for the Adina project to the Ministry of Environment, Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks in Quebec, launching the beginning of the regulatory review process.

Alongside its flagship Adina project, Winsome has three other projects in Quebec: Cancet, Sirmac-Clapier and Tilly.

“At a time when lithium pricing is down, we now find ourselves with several interests on this latest commodity, caesium,” Evans tells Mining Technology.

In February, Winsome reported that evaluation of outcrop samples from its Sirmac-Clapier project, originally acquired for its lithium potential, “confirmed the presence and tenor of very high-grade caesium mineralisation”.

Evans says the project “shows great promise” for caesium and will likely be the main target of further exploration efforts later this yr.

Winsome also owns a 20% shareholding in Power Metals Corporation, acquired from China’s Sinomine in 2022. Power Metals is developing the Case Lake project in north-east Ontario, for which Winsome also holds all of the offtake rights for caesium, lithium and tantalum.

In keeping with Evans, inside the following 12–18 months Case Lake has the potential to turn into the one operating caesium mine on this planet.

Pegmatite mines previously operated in Canada, Western Australia and Zimbabwe have ceased production, so caesium stockpiles are considered in “slow decline”.

The US Geological Survey states that consumption, import and export data for caesium haven’t been available for the reason that late Nineteen Eighties. Nonetheless, it estimates that the first global caesium producers in 2024 were Canada, China, Germany and Russia – and notes that the US was completely reliant on imports for its caesium needs in 2024.

Recognising the caesium market as “opaque”, Evans points out that projects could be brought online quickly if needed.

“The mining could be very different to lithium in that in a brief period of time you may mine a whole ‘pod’ of caesium that may represent several years of world supply,” says Evans.

“There may be a number of money to be made in a short while with caesium and we’re getting ourselves up to the mark in a short time,” concludes Evans.

“Winsome Resources outlines next steps for Adina lithium project” was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.

The knowledge on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It just isn’t intended to amount to advice on which you need to rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You should obtain skilled or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any motion on the premise of the content on our site.

Finapress

Winsome Resources outlines next steps for Adina lithium project

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply