PMET Resources Collects 2.5 Tonnes of Caesium Ore to Unlock Feasibility Testwork
Key Takeaways
- PMET has collected more than 2.5 tonnes of pollucite pegmatite from the CV13 Vega Zone using an innovative 30 cm diameter shallow coring method, generating fragment sizes adequate for feasibility-level ore sorting assessment.
- Ore sorting testwork is scheduled to commence Q4 2026, with results and composite grades anticipated in the first half of 2027 — a concrete timeline for the next material catalyst.
- Prior bench-scale XRT testwork on CV13 Vega Zone material has already produced pollucite concentrates grading 11.5% and 20.0% Cs2O at 88% overall recovery, with caesium extraction efficiency exceeding 97% from 12% Cs2O concentrate.
- PMET is actively engaging Koch Technology Solutions as a downstream partner, with the BerryPick concentrate intended to support potential future chemical testwork programs with that relationship.
- CV13 hosts what PMET describes as the world's largest in-situ pollucite-hosted caesium Mineral Resource, sitting less than 3 km along trend from CV5 where a positive lithium-only Feasibility Study was completed in October 2025.
PMET advances caesium development with large-scale pollucite sampling at CV13
PMET Resources has collected more than 2.5 tonnes of pollucite pegmatite from outcrop at the Vega Zone, CV13 Pegmatite, marking a material step forward in the company’s BerryPick program. The sample collection supports two distinct development objectives: concentrate production testwork and downstream caesium chemical testwork, with ore sorting anticipated to commence in Q4 2026 and results expected in the first half of 2027.
The Vega Zone outcrop was previously sampled via channel sampling, returning 3.0 m at 9.43% Cs2O (announced 9 April 2025), which helped define it as the BerryPick collection site.
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
An innovative collection method delivering feasibility-grade samples
The BerryPick program uses an innovative shallow coring approach: very large diameter drill core holes of approximately 30 cm diameter, drilled to depths of less than 60 cm, directly over the mineralised pollucite pegmatite outcrop. Whole core pieces are recovered, composited, and placed into bulk tonnage bags for shipping to the laboratory.
This method is designed to generate the sample volume and fragment size required for more advanced development testwork. Segments between holes are also jackhammered out and added to the composite, maximising material collection from each area of outcrop.
Why sample size matters in ore sorting testwork
Prior testwork at CV13 was limited to NQ core (4.8 cm diameter) and HQ core (6.4 cm diameter). Those sizes were sufficient for initial testwork programs but are not adequate for feasibility-level ore sorting assessment.
Ore sorting testwork requires larger fragment sizes because they better approximate blasted Run of Mine material — the actual product a mining operation sends through a processing plant after blasting and crushing. Fragments of approximately 30 cm are needed to generate an accurate picture of how the ore will behave in a full-scale sorting environment.
The BerryPick methodology offers three clear advantages over alternative approaches:
- Larger sample fragments (approximately 30 cm) for feasibility-level ore sorting assessment
- Fast and low-cost collection versus alternatives such as blasting or PQ coring (8.5 cm diameter)
- Ability to generate representative pollucite concentrate at scale in a shorter timeframe
The program’s primary objective is to produce 500–1,000 kg of pollucite concentrate to support ongoing development testwork for both concentrate production and downstream caesium chemical testwork programs.
Koch Technology Solutions engagement and the caesium downstream opportunity
PMET is building commercial relationships alongside its technical testwork. The company continues to engage with strategic caesium players in the downstream industry, including its existing relationship with Koch Technology Solutions, which was established through engagements referenced in news releases dated 15 April 2026 and 12 July 2026. The BerryPick concentrate, once produced, is intended to support potential future chemical testwork programs with downstream partners including Koch Technology Solutions.
The credibility underpinning these conversations is grounded in prior laboratory results. Bench-scale XRT ore sorting testwork on CV13 Vega Zone material has already produced pollucite concentrates of 11.5% Cs2O and 20.0% Cs2O at an overall recovery of 88%. The company has also demonstrated caesium extraction efficiency of more than 97% from pollucite concentrates grading 12% Cs2O.
These results establish that PMET can produce a concentrate of meaningful grade and that caesium can be extracted from it efficiently. The BerryPick program is designed to generate the larger volumes needed to take that testwork to a feasibility-relevant scale.
This release was approved by Kenneth Brinsden, President, CEO and Managing Director of PMET Resources.
World’s largest caesium resource — the asset underpinning the program
The BerryPick program is not operating in isolation — it is advancing the development pathway of what the company describes as the world’s largest in-situ pollucite-hosted caesium pegmatite Mineral Resource, hosted at CV13’s Rigel and Vega zones.
CV13 is located less than 3 km along trend from the CV5 Pegmatite, where a positive lithium-only Feasibility Study was announced on 20 October 2025. The broader Shaakichiuwaanaan Property is accessible year-round by all-season road and is proximal to regional hydro-power infrastructure.
The resource and reserve data underpinning the project across both lithium and caesium commodities are summarised below.
| Category | Tonnage | Grade | Commodity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesium MRE — Indicated | 0.69 Mt | 4.40% Cs2O | Caesium (pollucite) |
| Caesium MRE — Inferred | 1.70 Mt | 2.40% Cs2O | Caesium (pollucite) |
| Lithium MRE — Indicated (consolidated) | 108.0 Mt | 1.40% Li2O and 166 ppm Ta2O5 | Lithium / Tantalum |
| Lithium MRE — Inferred (consolidated) | 33.4 Mt | 1.33% Li2O and 155 ppm Ta2O5 | Lithium / Tantalum |
| Lithium Mineral Reserve — Probable (CV5) | 84.3 Mt | 1.26% Li2O | Lithium |
Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Caesium MRE effective date: 20 June 2025. Lithium Mineral Reserve effective date: 11 September 2025.
The combination of a completed lithium Feasibility Study at CV5 and active caesium development testwork at CV13 positions PMET as a multi-commodity critical minerals developer, advancing lithium and caesium in parallel at the Shaakichiuwaanaan Property.
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
Key milestones and timeline
- Pollucite sample collection continuing through fall 2026
- Ore sorting testwork anticipated to commence: Q4 2026
- Ore sorting results and composite grades anticipated: first half of 2027
- Assay results for visual mineral estimates (Table 1 figures): expected mid-2027
Note: Final grades of the BerryPick composites will be announced with ore sorting test program results when received and compiled. Visual estimates of mineral abundance are not a proxy for laboratory analysis and should not be treated as grade data.
Don’t Miss the Next Critical Minerals Breakthrough
Get FREE breaking ASX mining news delivered to your inbox within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis. Join 30,000+ investors already tracking caesium, lithium, and critical minerals developments as they happen. Click the “Free Alerts” button at Discovery Alert to stay ahead of the market the moment news breaks.