Nuinsco Resources Expands Metallurgical Program at Prairie Lake Critical Minerals Project
Toronto, Ontario — September 10, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Nuinsco Resources Limited announced today an expansion of its metallurgical studies for the Prairie Lake Critical Minerals Project, building on positive results from SGS Lakefield on August 5, 2026. The initial studies confirmed the potential to produce marketable-grade phosphate and rare earth element concentrates with acceptable phosphate recovery and minimal deleterious elements.
The company is initiating a new phase of testing using a sample from a higher-grade zone identified in the 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate. This will assess the impact of feed grade on recovery rates and concentrate quality. Concurrently, a parallel petrographic and mineralogical study is being launched at McGill University, led by Dr. Anthony Williams-Jones. This research will map the distribution of rare earth element-bearing minerals within concentrates and reject materials to enhance understanding of the project’s mineralogy.
Previous studies by Carleton University reported that the Prairie Lake apatite contains an average of 13,157 parts per million total rare earth elements, equivalent to 1.54 wt.% total rare earth oxide. This concentration is noted to be at the higher end of the global range for carbonatite complexes. The current metallurgical testing phase aims to achieve a phosphate concentrate grading significantly above 30% P₂O₅ with over 80% recovery.
Paul Jones, Nuinsco’s Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the significance of the recent findings. “The recently completed metallurgical studies at SGS Lakefield produced positive results, demonstrating that an attractive grade of phosphate concentrates, with REEs, can be produced at acceptable rates of P₂O₅ recovery, with negligible deleterious element content,” Jones stated. “We considered it imperative to proceed immediately with further studies to expand our understanding of concentrate production from Prairie Lake mineralisation.”
Jones further explained the rationale behind the new sample selection. “The new sample has been selected from a large zone of higher-grade mineralization than was represented by previous samples, to determine how feed grade affects process recoveries and concentrate grade. The presence of substantial higher-grade domains at Prairie Lake is an important factor in the Project’s potential development, as is the low deleterious element content, which has implications for its use as feed for high-purity phosphoric acid production — acid that is used in applications such as LFP battery manufacturing.”
The updated 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Prairie Lake project includes 3.54 million tonnes grading 4.59% P₂O₅ and 2,204 g/t TREO in the Indicated category, and 53.45 million tonnes grading 5.11% P₂O₅ and 2,355 g/t TREO in the Inferred category. The new metallurgical program will follow conditions and sequences found effective in prior testing, with potential for procedural simplification.
The mineralogical studies at McGill University will examine samples from both concentrates and rejects generated during metallurgical testing to identify their respective REE-bearing mineralogy, aiding in downstream processing decisions. The Prairie Lake Complex’s REE content is primarily composed of light rare earth elements, including neodymium and praseodymium, which are critical for permanent magnets. Other identified REE-bearing minerals include ancylite, carbocernaite, and burbankite.
Nuinsco describes Prairie Lake as a significant critical minerals asset hosting substantial igneous phosphate mineralization and high concentrations of light rare earth elements in apatite. The project’s location near Terrace Bay, Ontario, offers logistical advantages, including proximity to skilled labor, transportation infrastructure, and power lines. These critical elements are vital for applications in transportation, agriculture, battery manufacturing, and other green technologies, contributing to a secure critical minerals supply chain and offering national Canadian benefits.
Laura Giroux, P.Geo., Chief Geologist of Nuinsco, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Nuinsco Resources Limited has over 50 years of exploration experience and focuses on multi-commodity mineral exploration and development opportunities. Its current portfolio includes the Prairie Lake Project, the Zig Zag Lake Property (a joint venture), the Paradise Lake gold project, and a retained NSR royalty on the Sunbeam Gold Property.
Source: Nuinsco Resources Limited
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