Scandium Canada Ltd. (TSX-V: SCD) announced today the launch of its 2026 diamond drilling program at the Crater Lake scandium project in Nunavik, Quebec. The program comprises approximately 4,000 metres of diamond drilling, dedicated primarily 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. 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. The objective is to confirm grades and test the deposit's variability from a metallurgical standpoint, providing material required for the metallurgical testwork supporting the future feasibility study. The orientation of certain drillholes will also allow the company to test the continuity of the resource at depth.
Another 15% to 20% of the drill budget, or 500 to 1,000 metres, is dedicated to exploratory resource augmentation drilling to test the lateral limits of the 2025 mineral resource estimate, which remains open. The remaining drill meterage will be allocated to limited shallow exploration drilling to test targets on the Discovery Zone, approximately 750 metres south-southwest along strike from the TG Zone resource.
Guy Bourassa, Chief Executive Officer of Scandium Canada, 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 Crater Lake project hosts a mineral resource estimate within the TG Zone, which remains open, as set out in the technical report entitled 'NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Crater Lake Project, Quebec, Canada', available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.
From June to September, WSP will continue the environmental assessment work initiated in 2024 at Crater Lake. The program includes fauna and flora inventories, fish habitat surveys, and hydrogeological and geochemical studies, all in support of the environmental assessment underpinning the prefeasibility study.
Core samples will be shipped from site on outgoing flights to Laurentia's core facility, where QAQC standards will be inserted before samples are sent to Activation Laboratories (Ancaster, Ontario) for multi-element geochemical analysis. Assay results are expected in the fall of 2026.
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Eric Kinnan, P.Geo. (OGQ No. 00788), an independent consulting geologist and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
