Scandium Canada Ltd. (TSX-V: SCD) announced the launch of its 2026 diamond drilling program at the Crater Lake scandium project in Nunavik, Quebec. The program, totaling approximately 4,000 metres, is primarily dedicated to collecting a representative metallurgical bulk sample throughout the defined resource, with additional drilling for resource extension at the TG Zone and exploration at the Discovery Zone. Camp mobilization has been underway since late April under Laurentia Exploration, with drilling expected to begin in the coming weeks and continue through August 2026. In parallel, WSP will continue environmental assessment work from June to September in support of the prefeasibility study.
The 2026 campaign is built around three technical objectives. The core of the program allocates 75% to 80% of the planned drilling (3,000 to 3,500 metres) to collect a representative bulk sample of 8 to 10 tonnes throughout the resource defined in the 2025 mineral resource estimate. The sample will be assembled from half-diameter HQ drill core, assuming approximately 80% recovery over mineralized intercepts, to confirm grades and test metallurgical variability. This material will support the metallurgical testwork required for a future feasibility study. Additionally, 500 to 1,000 metres are dedicated to exploratory resource extension drilling to test the lateral limits of the 2025 mineral resource estimate, which remains open. The remaining meterage will be allocated to limited shallow exploration drilling on the Discovery Zone, approximately 750 metres south-southwest 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."
From June to September, WSP will continue environmental assessment work initiated in 2024, including fauna and flora inventories, fish habitat surveys, and hydrogeological and geochemical studies, all supporting the environmental assessment for 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. Laurentia Exploration manages camp logistics and drilling, with helicopter support for equipment and personnel movement.
Core samples will be shipped from site 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. Mineralized intervals from the bulk sample will subsequently be selected for LIBS scanning and metallurgical analysis, with assay results expected in fall 2026. 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 under NI 43-101.
