Winsome Resources CEO Chris Evans: Sustainable Hard-rock Lithium Opportunities in Quebec

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Winsome Resources CEO Chris Evans said, “Canada and the US are working feverishly to develop an internal battery materials supply chain and we think we're going to play a critical role in that.”

For the mining industry, Quebec is a region synonymous with opportunity. Not only does it contain rich deposits of over 30 minerals, but it is also host to a tremendous amount of unexplored and underexplored land.

Factor in highly-favorable mining policies and immense reserves of critical metals such as lithium, and it's clear to see why it has the attention of so many mining companies.

This confluence of factors makes Quebec an excellent target for international mining investment, and many Australian companies have already staked claims in the area.


An ideal mining jurisdiction

Quebec is home to numerous mines and exploration projects, many of which are owned and operated by some of the world's largest mining companies.

For instance, Agnico Mines (TSX:AEM) operates the largest operating gold mine in the country, Canadian Malartic, alongside Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY,TSX:YRI). There's also IAMGOLD (TSX:IMG), which recently acquired the Doyon Division mining property with plans to process ore via the carbon in pulp method. Osisko Mining (TSX:OSK), meanwhile, owns multiple projects throughout Quebec, including Windfall, Quevillon and Urban Barry.

Other notable projects include Newmont Mining’s (TSX:NGT) Éléonore gold mine as well as the Casa Berardi mine alongside the Heva-Hosco exploration project, both owned by Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL).

Yet for all the Canadian and American companies Quebec attracts, international investors — particularly those based in Australia — find the market equally compelling.

This is in large part because Quebec is widely regarded as one of the most favorable mining jurisdictions in the world. In the Fraser Institute's 2021 Annual Summary of Mining Companies, it ranked third globally in both investment attractiveness and policy attractiveness. Geography aside, this is in large part due to government policy.

Even after Bill 14 introduced new restrictions on mining companies in 2011, mining executives continued to hold Quebec in high esteem. Mineral claims are managed on a first come, first served basis via a digital map built from high-quality geographic data. Exploration and discovery are made even simpler by the fact that prospectors must pay only a nominal fee to explore almost any area of the province.

Quebec also benefits from a skilled labor force, well-maintained infrastructure and political stability. Like many established mining regions in North America, the province's mining sector has a long history, dating back to the 1800s. And like many mining jurisdictions, Quebec has begun to turn its eye towards battery metals, lithium especially.

Inside Quebec's lithium rush

The importance of lithium is hardly a secret. As the world continues to push for sustainable energy and electrification, demand for the battery metal has skyrocketed. Although lithium prices appear to have stabilized at the moment, they spiked over 400 percent last year.

This growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future — and any report that claims otherwise is inaccurate and misses market fundamentals. Quebec, for its part, is well-positioned to take advantage of this booming market. It currently hosts the largest known lithium deposits in Canada, totaling 31.7 million tons of proven reserves and 60.9 million tons of probable reserves.

Consequently, Quebec is also home to a multitude of lithium projects in various stages of development, all of which show a great deal of promise. Last year, for instance, junior mining company Musk Metals (CSE:MUSK) purchased a 100 percent interest in the Elon lithium property near the Quebecois mining town of Val d'Or. Nemaska Lithium, meanwhile, plans to open the largest lithium mine in North America, which is expected to produce over one percent of the global total.

More recently, Winsome Resources (ASX:WR1) has emerged as a new player in Quebec's lithium market. The Australian exploration and development company is currently focused on cultivating five separate lithium assets across the province. Winsome's flagship project, Cancet, is in its advanced stages of exploration, with extensive diamond drilling and metallurgical test work revealing high-grade deposits of both tantalum and lithium.

The company also owns the Adina Project, the Sirmac-Clapier Project and the recently acquired Decelles and Mazerac projects. Between them, its projects total over 1500 claims across over 62,000 hectares. It claims 100 percent ownership over three of these four projects — Cancet, Adina and Sirmac-Clappier — with exclusive rights to purchase Decelles and Mazerac.

ASX-listed players in Quebec

Winsome Resources may be one of the Australian lithium development companies operating in Quebec, but it is not the only mining company staking a claim to the province's rich resources. Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA), for instance, currently own three lithium projects in the area —the Authier Lithium Project near Val d'Or, the old North American Lithium mine as well as recently acquiring a controlling portion of the Moblan lithium project.

Meanwhile, in 2020 Mount Royal Resources (ASX:MRZ) entered into a binding joint ventureship with Azimut Exploration Incorporated (TSXV:AZM) to earn up to 70 percent of the Wapatik Gold-Copper Project. Rafaella Resources (ASX:RFR) has a consolidated position in the Belleterre-Angliers Greenstone Belt, with a portfolio of assets focused on nickel, copper, and platinum group metals. This portfolio was heavily augmented in May 2022, when Chase Mining (ASX:CML) sold its Alotta and Lorraine mineral claims to Rafaella.

Takeaway

Quebec is a hotbed of mining activity, particularly in the critical metals and battery metals markets. Companies from all over the world are flocking to the province, particularly from the United States and Australia. Whether you intend to invest in the mining sector for the first time or add new mining stocks to your existing portfolio, Quebec is an excellent place to start.

This INNSpired article is sponsored by Winsome Resources (ASX:WR1). This INNSpired article provides information which was sourced by the Investing News Network (INN) and approved by Winsome Resourcesin order to help investors learn more about the company. Winsome Resources is a client of INN. The company’s campaign fees pay for INN to create and update this INNSpired article.

This INNSpired article was written according to INN editorial standards to educate investors.

INN does not provide investment advice and the information on this profile should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. INN does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company profiled.

The information contained here is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities. Readers should conduct their own research for all information publicly available concerning the company. Prior to making any investment decision, it is recommended that readers consult directly with Winsome Resourcesand seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.

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