RES
TSX-V:SCD
YEAR 25
KEYMILESTONES
Scandium Canada on growth path in 2025
Following numerous positive meetings last year, 2025 will be all about follow up and cementing partnerships for ScandiumCanada(TSX-V:SCD)
CEO Guy Bourassa tells Miningcomau that in 2024 Scandium Canada underwent a major strategic transformation that reinforced the company ' s commitment to innovation, sustainable development and itspositionasaleaderinthecriticalmineralssector
Among the notable moves last year was Bourassa’s appointmentasCEO,whichbroughtanewstrategicvision tothecriticalmineralssector
This was reinforced by the change of name from Imperial MiningGrouptoScandiumCanada,symbolisinganewera forthecompany
InOctober2024,Bourassaembarkedonamajormissionin Hong Kong and Singapore meeting with a number of investors and potential scandium users interested in developing Scandium Canada’s Crater Lake project in Québec,Canada
Bourassa, who also spent a few days in South Korea to meet with players interested in the aluminium-scandium alloys markets, says it was a productive period for the company.
“Not only did we talk about interests in participating in Scandium Canada’s business growth, but also about business opportunities in the aluminium-scandium alloys markets,”hesays
“These initial contacts will require a lot of follow-up, but we’re convinced of the interest generated by our projects, both in terms of the mining project and our advances in alloysfor3Dprintingandextrusion”
Crater Lake is one of the world’s largest primary scandium projects,hostinganexistingresourcewithintheTGZoneof 118milliontonnes@2759gramspertonneintheindicated category and 159 million tonnes @ 2684g/t in the inferred category
ScandiumCanadaholdsexclusivemineralrightstoCrown lands in Québec The project spans 96 contiguous claims over 47 km², including the TG zone, which extends 45km with an estimated 27 million tonnes Bourassa says the untappedpotentialfornewdiscoveriesremainsimmense
Scandium Canada spent the Canadian summer of 2024 completing a two-part drilling program, with one of the main goals being to confirm the potential extension of the TGZoneoveranadditional250m
Scandium and rare earths mineralisation was identified in the seven holes drilled after the program intersected the targetscandium-bearingferrosyenitehostrock
Results released just prior to the end of last year showed the company had achieved its goal of extending the TG Zone,withthedepositremainingopeninalldirectionsand atdepth
With all of the results in, Scandium Canada is working on anupdated43-101mineralresourceestimatetoreflectthe extensiontothesouthofthealreadyknowndepositthatis dueforcompletioninthefirstquarterof2025
“Drilling campaigns in 2024 confirmed the TG Zone's significant scandium and rare earth potential, paving the wayforamineralresourceupdateandPrefeasibilityStudy forthisstrategicproject,”Bourassasays
Another milestone achieved in 2024 was the filing of a patent application in the US for the company’s two aluminium-scandium alloys and their powders designed specifically for additive manufacturing (3D printing) applications.
ScandiumCanadadevelopedthetwoalloysinpartnership withMcMasterUniversityinOntario.
Using aluminium-scandium alloys and their powders in 3D printing opens up the opportunity for manufacturing lightweight, high-strength components, particularly in aerospace,automotive,andmaritimeindustries
Adding just 04% scandium to aluminium alloys shows as muchasaneightfoldincreaseinstrength
Utilising aluminium-scandium alloys for the welding of aircraft structures rather than rivets for assembly is tipped to reduce weight and generate C$10 to C$15 million in fuel savingsoveranaircraft’slifetime
Major aircraft manufacturer Boeing estimates that the use of aluminium-scandium alloys would contribute to lightweighting and reduce manufacturing costs by up to $US3million($48million)peraircraft
“Drilling campaigns in 2024 confirmed the TG Zone's significant scandium and rare earth potential, paving the way for a mineral resource update and Prefeasibility Study for this strategic project.
Following the filing of the patent application, Scandium Canada began to approach potential users wishing to independently test the properties of parts to be manufacturedby3Dprinting
Bourassatellsthisnewsservicethatthefilingofthepatent reflectsthecompany'sambitiontoestablishitselfasakey player in the field of critical materials, while adhering to responsibleandsustainablepractices
In the final quarter of 2024, Scandium Canada was on the hunt for a prime location to build its proposed hydrometallurgical plant designed to convert scandium concentrateintoscandiumoxide
ThecompanylookedatsitesinWabush,LabradorCity,and Fermont
BourassasaystherepositioningofScandiumCanadawas accompanied by the optimisation of ore treatment processes for the Crater Lake Project, made possible by technologicalinnovations
Work on optimising the ore concentration process flow sheet and the process flow sheet for hydrometallurgical production of scandium oxide began at SGS Canada’s Lakefield,Ontariolaboratory,usinga500kgsample
The ore concentration steps have been validated and the hydrometallurgical process to transform the concentrate into scandium oxide is now Scandium Canada’s main focus.
Full testing is slated for completion in February, with a final reportdueinMarch.
Also on the agenda for 2025 is the completion of a Prefeasibility Study, including a resource update, and the start of a 15-ton metallurgical pilot program, which is slatedforcompletionbymid-2026
Meanwhile, environmental assessment and permitting is ongoing
“With these achievements, Scandium Canada enters 2025 with a clear vision to pursue its development with its aluminium-scandiumalloysvaluechain,”Bourassasays
“With these achievements, Scandium Canada enters 2025 with a clear vision to pursue its development with its aluminiumscandium alloys value chain.
