Bulk sampling project at the B zone of the proposed Strange Lake mine

The Zone-B bulk sampling project is designed to collect approximately 4,800 t of mineral materials to reduce geological, metallurgical and geotechnical uncertainties and support the detailed design of the Strange Lake mine project. The rare earths elements of interest are mainly neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb). The works will take place within the envelope of the future pit, over an area of approximately 4,610 m².

The preliminary list of infrastructure items planned for the sampling includes:

– A new temporary airstrip
– New access roads
– A temporary accumulation area for mineralized materials and overburden
– Diversion ditches and ditches (surrounding infrastructure)
– A water treatment plant
– An effluent discharge point
– Storage and assembly areas
– Temporary mechanical workshops
– Generators
– Temporary diesel and oil storage facilities
– A container for waste oil (to be disposed of off-site)
– An authorized temporary explosives storage facility with a retention tank
– An authorized temporary storage facility for detonators with a retention tank
– The opening and operation of two borrow pits (SG1-1 and SG1-2), each with a surface area of less than 3 hectares

In total, approximately 10,500 t of material will be handled during bulk sampling, including overburden, blasted rock, pegmatite and granite from the mineralized Zone B.