Nuinsco Expands Metallurgical Program at Prairie Lake Project
News related to:Nuinsco Resources Limited · 2 min read
Nuinsco Resources Limited announced an expanded metallurgical program at its Prairie Lake Critical Minerals Project, following positive results from recent tests. The findings, conducted by SGS Lakefield on August 5, 2026, confirmed that marketable-grade phosphate and rare earth element (REE) concentrates can be produced with acceptable phosphate recovery rates and negligible levels of deleterious elements.
The company has launched a new test sample from a higher-grade zone of the 2026 updated Mineral Resource Estimate to assess how feed grade impacts recovery and concentrate quality. This move is significant as it aims to understand the potential of higher-grade mineralization at the project site, which could be crucial for the project's development.
Parallel to the metallurgical studies, a petrographic/mineralogical program is being conducted at McGill University under Dr. Anthony Williams-Jones. These studies will map the REE-bearing mineralogy across the concentrates and rejects generated during the testing phase. This work is expected to deepen the understanding of REE distribution within the Prairie Lake Complex, supporting more informed downstream processing decisions.
Independent research conducted at Carleton University has revealed that apatite from the Prairie Lake project carries a mean 13,157 parts per million total REE (1.54 weight percent total rare earth oxide [TREO]), placing it at the high end of the range for carbonatite complexes globally. The apatite is particularly rich in light REEs, including neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), lanthanum, cerium, and samarium, with high-value permanent-magnet REEs Nd and Pr being the most prevalent.
Paul Jones, Nuinsco's Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the importance of these findings. "The presence of substantial higher-grade domains at Prairie Lake is an important factor in the project's potential development," he said. "The low deleterious element content is also significant, as it has implications for the use of the mineral as feed for high-purity phosphoric acid production, which is essential for applications such as LFP battery manufacturing."
The next phase of the metallurgical testing targets a phosphate concentrate with a grade significantly above 30% P₂O₅, at over 80% recovery. This target reflects the company's commitment to optimizing the extraction process to maximize both the quantity and quality of the concentrates produced.
The Prairie Lake Critical Minerals Project is located in the heart of North America, near Terrace Bay, Ontario. The project is of immense value to Canada's critical minerals supply chain, offering potential for significant regional and national benefits. The mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the project indicates a substantial igneous phosphate mineralization, with high light REE concentrations in apatite. The project also hosts niobium mineralization in pyrochlore.
The company noted that the project's proximity to various infrastructure assets, including all-weather forest access roads, provincial highways, railways, and power transmission lines, makes it well-positioned for further development. Additionally, the project is situated near deep-water ports and the Marathon airport, facilitating logistics and transportation needs.
Nuinsco Resources Limited, with over 50 years of exploration success, is focused on developing multi-commodity opportunities, including phosphate, rare earth elements, niobium, and tantalum. The company remains dedicated to exploring and developing its assets to support critical mineral needs in various industries, including transportation, agriculture, and green technologies.