Solterra

Exploring #rareearths and #phosphate in pre-established #fertilizer supply chains. Bathurst Rare Metals

At Bathurst Rare Metals, several options exist for processing rare earths from phosphate minerals like fluorapatites at Benjamin River. On way that might fit New Brunswick's plans is through co-production via recycled phosphoric acid, local supply chain that would exist with the reopening of the potash mines for instance. By digesting fluorapatite in technical phosphoric acid already circulating in wet-process fertilizer infrastructure, it partitions into fertilizer liquid while REEs selectively precipitate as a high-grade micro-phosphate concentrate. This reduces carbon/environmental footprint by sharing existing agricultural fertilizer manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate grinding, or dedicated primary acid plants. #rareearths #phosphate #iron #criticalminerals #NewBrunswick #fertilizer #cleantech #carbonreduction #investment

SAILIS is a Nova Scotia based spinout from Solterra with 100% mineral interest in the Beckwith salt dome, initially focused on energy storage and utilizing brine recovery for battery supply along a primary structure of the natural hydrogen camp, directly in the middle of: QIMC; Kavenex Energy and Koloma, the heavily financed U.S. natural hydrogen explorer that has raised more than US$400 million from investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and United Airlines; and Primary Hydrogen. The concept now is to leverage potential hydrogen exploration to finance drilling and investigation of both economic salt and underground storage such as gravity related so that all options are de-risked to make some level of discovery. If it isn't flowing it needs to go somewhere, and that somewhere has a lot of back up opportunities as well... Solterra's other project Conduit Metals also hold the Westchester and Sugarloaf IOCG projects overlapping the main,.deep faulted corridor, with all the same geology. #criticalminerals #energystorage #batteries #salt #SIB #GESS #BESS #gravity #thermal #CAES #naturalhydrogen #hydrogen #copper #cobalt #rareearth

Solterra is proud to reaffirm ongoing collaboration with Dr. Donnelly Archibald and his research team at St. Francis Xavier University (StFX). From foundational work to new regional targets, this partnership continues to drive exploration success across Nova Scotia: Previously at West Barney’s River Rare Earth Elements (REE): Academic collaboration proved essential in unravelling complex magmatic versus hydrothermal systems. Utilizing advanced petrological and spectroscopic tools, Dr. Archibald’s team resolved primary magmatic phases (e.g., allanite, monazite) from secondary alteration, directly linking REE enrichment to regional A-type granitic events and steering exploration toward high-priority hydrothermal breccia corridors. Conduit Metals Pictou Copper-Cobalt-REE Project: Building on that success, ongoing research focuses on de-risking large-scale basin-margin polymetallic and IOCG-style targets at depth. Through XRD and Raman spectroscopy mineral mapping, Dr. Archibald’s lab identifies cryptic alteration assemblages and clarifies whether mineralization stems from deep Devono-Carboniferous granitic magmatism along the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone or regional fluid circulation. Training High-Quality Personnel (HQP): Beyond advancing geological models, this partnership provides StFX undergraduate and graduate students with direct industry integration, hands-on geochemical training, and applied economic geology experience. A sincere thank you to Dr. Donnelly Archibald and the student researchers at StFX for their dedication to advancing the science behind Canada’s critical mineral supply chain. #CriticalMinerals #EconomicGeology #NovaScotia #StFX #MiningExploration #RareEarths #Copper #Cobalt #Geosciences #AppliedResearch

The Conduit Metals Flagship project in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, is shaping up to be a textbook target for a Metasomatic Iron-Alkali-Calcic (MIAC) or Iron Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) mineral system. Applying the concept of a "Tectonic Clock"—where episodic fault movements open transient pathways for deep-seated hydrothermal fluids—the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone (CCFZ) represents an ideal crustal-scale plumbing system. While drilling has not yet pierced the underlying Proterozoic basement, the physical and chemical indicators in the overlying Carboniferous strata reveal a highly active, deep-rooted structural engine. A prime geophysic fingerprint is a large gravity low crossed by a prominent magnetic trend that suffers intense, localized magnetic destruction near a major dilatational fault zone. In an IOCG model, these deep gravity lows often signify buried Devono-Carboniferous A-type granitic plutons that drove the district's thermal gradients. The striking magnetic dead zone demonstrates that high-temperature, oxidized hydrothermal fluids aggressively breached this structural jog, altering primary magnetite into hematite and iron-carbonates (siderite-ankerite), leaving a classic alteration footprint behind. The upper Carboniferous stratigraphy acts as the visual "exhaust system" for this deeper mineralizing cell. The presence of strong alteration haloes, trace disseminated copper, and historically mined breccias at the surface confirm that pressurized fluid expulsion successfully utilized these structural conduits. Rather than random anomalies, these surface expressions are the direct upward migration pathways of a potential large-scale magmatic-hydrothermal system that remains untested at depth. The exploration upside expands rapidly when tracing these transient flows laterally to the east. As these deep-seated, oxidized fluids escaped the main fault corridors, they encountered two exceptional chemical traps: the reactive limestone/evaporite boundaries of the Windsor Group contact and the organic-rich, reducing environments approaching the Stellarton coal fields. This setup mirrors world-class analog systems where metal-bearing fluids migrate out of structural conduits and interact with basinal organic matter or bitumen to precipitate high-grade, stratabound copper-sulfide deposits. As we vector toward a Phase 1 drill program, this offers a compelling multi-tier exploration play. Predictive AI/ML target mapping will help point to dual high-priority objectives: testing the deep, magmatically destructive core of the gravity low to locate the primary feeder pipe, and stepping out laterally to target high-grade stratabound "mantos" where fluid pathways collide with regional carbonaceous traps. The tectonic clock is ticking on a classic Nova Scotian mineral system. #Geology #MiningExploration #IOCG #CriticalMinerals #NovaScotia #MineralExploration #copper #cobalt #rareearths

Solterra's previous Guysborough and Southern Regional Lithium/Pegmatite Project (GRLP/SRLP) came up with nearly a hundred new pegmatites never mapped, including a series of < 30 K/Rb ratios from a couple years back. many if those pegmatites are still staked including the areas immediately adjacent to Scotia Metals new claims that were not investigated during those studies but were based on the ease of available land access and Lidar targets. Previous till and biogeochem indicate areas of interest as well. A fall prospecting program has been planned for 2026. Additional quartz veins were taken during pegmatite investigations but never samples as well as potential griesens. #Lithium #Cesium #Tantalum #Niobium #Tin #CriticalMinerals #NovaScotia

SAILIS is looking at underexplored salt caverns for both #salt recovered from brine waste used to create subsurface #energystorage for #greenenergy and #cleantech.

CBC talking about the issue with industrial sized lithium battery fires when we need over 2000 seacan sized ones for Nova Scotia wind and other energy support is timely for discussion about other methods. 🔋 Sodium-Ion vs. Lithium-Ion: The Next Frontier in Energy Storage & Safety as a waste from natural underground batteries with SAILIS As energy storage demands accelerate across grid infrastructure and fleet operations, the conversation around battery chemistry is shifting beyond raw energy density toward thermal stability, supply chain resilience, and logistics safety. While Lithium-ion (LIB) chemistries remain the gold standard for volumetric energy density in long-range EVs, Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a compelling alternative for stationary energy storage (BESS) and commercial applications. 1️⃣ Enhanced Thermal Stability & Safety Margins. Accelerating Rate Calorimetry (ARC) and abuse testing demonstrate that SIBs exhibit higher thermal runaway onset temperatures (290^\circ\text{C} - 310^\circ\text{C}) and lower peak heat release rates compared to high-nickel LIBs. Additionally, sodium’s intercalation dynamics in hard carbon lower the risk of dendrite-induced internal short circuits during fast charging. 2️⃣ Zero-Volt (0\text{ V}) Transport & Logistics. Unlike lithium, sodium does not alloy with aluminum at low potentials. This allows SIBs to use lightweight aluminum foil for both cathode and anode current collectors, enabling full discharge to 0\text{ V} (0\%\text{ SOC}) for freight shipping. Transporting cells at zero state-of-charge eliminates stored electrochemical energy and significantly lowers freight risk. 3️⃣ Cold-Weather Operational Retention Due to lower ionic desolvation energy barriers, SIBs maintain strong performance in sub-zero environments, retaining >70 to 80% capacity at -40C, an area where conventional LFP systems encounter elevated internal resistance. 4️⃣ Supply Chain & Material Abundance By replacing cobalt, nickel, and copper with abundant sodium, iron, and aluminum, SIBs reduce exposure to critical metal volatility while cutting baseline material costs for grid-scale deployment. The Takeaway: High-nickel lithium batteries will continue to dominate applications where weight and volume are premium constraints. However, for stationary storage, harsh-climate operations, and safety-critical installations, Sodium-ion represents a key step forward in sustainable energy infrastructure. Using a local source to refit lithium BESS to a safer SIB (while creating larger longer lasting energy storage) would be a good move, to prevent fires, build more durable industrial sized batteries to support wind energy and more. #EnergyStorage #CleanTech #BatteryTechnology #SodiumIon #SIB #RenewableEnergy #GridStorage #BESS #CAES #GESS #Salt #SafetyEngineering #Fires #Lithium

Unlocking Canada's Unconventional REE Potential: Why IOA-Type Apatite Systems Deserve More Capital Attention. When investors evaluate Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs), attention usually shifts directly to carbonatites or ionic clay deposits. However, Iron Oxide-Apatite (IOA) systems offer one of the most compelling, multi-commodity risk-mitigated models in hard-rock mineral exploration. A prime Canadian example is the Benjamin River IOA deposit in Northern New Brunswick—a Siluro-Devonian pegmatitic apatite-magnetite-pyroxene system hosted within the Dickie Brook plutonic complex. 🔬 How does Benjamin River stack up against public IOA & Igneous Apatite peers? While developers like First Phosphate (CSE: PHOS) and Arianne Phosphate (TSXV: DAN) in Québec highlight the strategic value of igneous anorthosite-hosted apatite, and VR Resources (TSXV: VRR) explores IOA breccia targets at Hecla-Kilmer, Benjamin River presents unique competitive advantages: 1. Enriched Heavy REE (HREE) Basket: Unlike typical carbonatite-hosted apatite systems dominated solely by Light REEs (La, Ce), Benjamin River exhibits an unusually high proportion of Heavy Rare Earths (>11% HREO basket), driven by dysprosium and yttrium substitution within zoned fluorapatite. 2. Tri-Product Processing Flexibility: The mineral assemblage (fluorapatite + magnetite + pyroxene) offers a natural tri-product revenue stream: 🔹 High-Purity Phosphate Concentrate (P2O5): Feedstock for LFP batteries or merchant-grade phosphoric acid. 🔹 Magnetite Concentrate (Fe2O3): Co-product iron oxide for industrial applications. 🔹 REE / Heavy REE Concentrate: Extracted via simple acid leaching of the apatite matrix without refractory silicate cracking issues. 3. Tier-1 East Coast Infrastructure Advantage: Situated ~50 km from the Bathurst mining hub and minutes from paved highways, deep-water port facilities (Port of Belledune), and grid power in New Brunswick drastically lowering greenfield capex hurdles compared to remote northern projects. As security of supply for magnet metals NdPr, Dy, Tb and battery-grade phosphate continues to drive government policy, IOA deposits in Atlantic Canada represent a high-value, multi-commodity solution. What are your thoughts on igneous apatite vs. carbonatite processing economics? Let's discuss in the comments below! #CriticalMinerals #RareEarths #Geology #Mining #NewBrunswick #Phosphate #IronOxideApatite #BatteryMetals #Exploration #LFP #Batteries #Iron #Copper #MIAC #IOA #IOCG #Port #FirstPhosphate

SAILIS is researching hybrid opportunities for inert underground energy storage to support grid demand and transition while using any wastes for even more energy solutions such as sodium ion batteries. Additionally, other possibilities include looking at improved ways to find closed loop systems for water recycling and advantages of geology for even data centers, lowering the risk to environment that also provide security of both data and energy in the event of various emergency situations. Deep Bedrock & Salt Cavern Excavations Physical & Electromagnetic Shielding: Housing infrastructure inside deep granite formations or solution-mined salt caverns (200–500 m depth) offers native protection against EMPs, severe weather, and physical threats while maintaining high thermal inertia. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): Pairing deep subsurface facilities with binary-cycle geothermal power systems allows high-density AI clusters to utilize earth-heat directly for baseline power, returning low-temperature fluid to cool the data halls. #data #datacenters #energystorage #batteries #SIB #salt 🔋 Energy Storage Technologies (Core & Emerging) #BESS #GESS #CAES #TES #RTES #EnergyStorage #LongDurationEnergyStorage #LDES #CompressedAirEnergyStorage #ThermalEnergyStorage #GeothermalEnergyStorage #BatteryStorage #HybridESS #CleanEnergyStorage 🌊 Subsea, Ocean & Geothermal Infrastructure #SubseaDataCenter #UnderwaterDataCenter #OceanTech #GeothermalEnergy #GeothermalTech #SubsurfaceEnergy #DeepWaterCooling #EGS #ProjectNatick #BlueEconomy #MarineEngineering #OffshoreTech 💻 Data Center & Tech Infrastructure #DataCenter #DataCenterDesign #GreenDataCenter #DataCenterCooling #ImmersionCooling #SustainableComputing #Hyperscale #Infrastructure #EdgeComputing #DigitalInfrastructure #AIDataCenter 🌿 Sustainability, Decarbonization & Grid Resilience #CleanTech #ClimateTech #Sustainability #Decarbonization #NetZero #ESG #GridResilience #GridInteractivity #PeakShaving #RenewableIntegration #EnergyTransition #BESS #CAES #GESS #EnergyStorage #SubseaDataCenter #GeothermalEnergy #GreenDataCenter #DataCenterCooling #CleanTech #ClimateTech #DigitalInfrastructure #EnergyTransition #NetZero #SustainableComputing