Scandium Canada Ltd. (TSX-V: SCD) announced the launch of its 2026 diamond drilling program at the Crater Lake scandium project in Nunavik, Quebec, comprising approximately 4,000 metres of drilling. The program is primarily dedicated to collecting a representative metallurgical bulk sample throughout the defined resource, complemented by resource extension drilling at the TG Zone and exploration drilling on the Discovery Zone.
Camp mobilization has been underway since late April under the management of Laurentia Exploration, with drill crews arriving on June 20 and equipment expected on site starting the same day. Drilling is expected to begin in the coming weeks and continue through August 2026. In parallel, WSP will continue previous environmental assessment work from June to September in support of the prefeasibility study.
Approximately 75% to 80% of the planned drilling, or 3,000 to 3,500 metres, is dedicated to collecting a metallurgical test bulk sample of 8 to 10 tonnes throughout the defined resource and testing its variability. The sample will be assembled from half-diameter HQ drill core, assuming approximately 80% recovery over mineralized intercepts, to confirm grades and test deposit variability for the feasibility study. Additionally, 15% to 20% of the drill budget (500 to 1,000 metres) is allocated to exploratory resource augmentation drilling to test the lateral limits of the 2025 mineral resource estimate, which remains open. The remaining meterage will be used for limited shallow exploration drilling on the Discovery Zone, approximately 750 metres SSW along strike from the TG Zone resource.
Guy Bourassa, Chief Executive Officer, stated: “With mobilization underway at Crater Lake, this program advances several priorities at once. The bulk of the drilling is dedicated to collecting a representative metallurgical bulk sample throughout the defined resource, the key input for the metallurgical work required for a feasibility study. We will also test the lateral extensions of the TG Zone, where the deposit remains open, and drill initial exploration targets on the Discovery Zone. We expect a steady flow of news from Crater Lake as results become available this fall.”
The environmental assessment work by WSP includes fauna and flora inventories, fish habitat surveys, and hydrogeological and geochemical studies, all supporting the prefeasibility study. The WSP team is expected on site on June 15. Field activities are conducted from the existing exploration camp with a maximum of 20 people and no new permanent installations.
Core samples will be shipped to Laurentia's core facility for QAQC insertion before being sent to Activation Laboratories in Ancaster, Ontario, for multi-element geochemical analysis. Mineralized intervals from the bulk sample will subsequently be selected for LIBS scanning and metallurgical analysis, with assay results expected in fall 2026. The Company will provide progress updates as the program advances.
The Crater Lake project hosts a mineral resource estimate within the TG Zone, which remains open, as detailed in the technical report available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+. The scientific and technical information has been reviewed and approved by Eric Kinnan, P.Geo., an independent consulting geologist and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
