Nevada Lithium Announces Significant Amounts of Critical Minerals Rubidium and Cesium Within its Bonnie Claire Lithium Project

Core Insights - Nevada Lithium Resources Inc. has identified significant rubidium and cesium mineralization in its Bonnie Claire lithium project, which could enhance the project's economic viability and contribute to the U.S. supply of critical minerals [1][3][4] Company Developments - The CEO of Nevada Lithium, Stephen Rentschler, highlighted that the presence of rubidium and cesium aligns with the U.S. Department of the Interior's Draft 2025 Critical Minerals List, potentially increasing the revenue from boron by-products identified in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) [2][4] - Initial analysis of the Pregnant Leach Solution (PLS) indicates that rubidium and cesium are recoverable, and the company is exploring various recovery options [3][20] Project Details - The Bonnie Claire project has a mine life of 61 years and a processing rate of nearly 3 million tonnes of ore annually, suggesting a substantial contribution to the U.S. domestic supply of critical minerals [3][28] - The project consists of two mineral deposits: an Upper Zone with moderate-grade lithium and boron, and a Lower Zone characterized by high-grade lithium and boron [5][6] Mineralization Findings - Significant cesium and rubidium mineralization was confirmed in all drill holes from the 2023 and 2024 drilling programs, with notable grades including 248 ppm Cs over 318.5 ft and 313 ppm Rb over 298.5 ft [9][10] - A strong positive correlation was found between cesium, rubidium, lithium, and boron grades, indicating potential for enhanced recovery and economic returns [12][13] Economic Assessment - The recently released PEA indicates an after-tax net present value of $6.829 billion at an 8% discount rate, based on lithium and boron pricing [28] - The company aims to optimize the lithium flowsheet while investigating recovery options for rubidium and cesium to further enhance project economics [20][32]