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 comprises approximately 4,000 metres of drilling, primarily aimed at collecting a representative metallurgical bulk sample throughout the defined resource, with additional drilling for resource extension at the TG Zone and exploration on 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 bulk of the drilling, 75% to 80% or approximately 3,000 to 3,500 metres, is dedicated to collecting a metallurgical test bulk sample of 8 to 10 tonnes across the defined resource. This sample will be assembled from half-diameter HQ drill core, assuming about 80% recovery over mineralized intercepts. The objective is to confirm grades and test deposit variability from a metallurgical standpoint, providing essential material for the feasibility study. Additionally, 15% to 20% of the drill budget (500 to 1,000 metres) will test lateral limits of the 2025 mineral resource estimate, which remains open. The remaining meterage will be allocated to 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.”
The 2026 campaign is built around three technical objectives: metallurgical bulk sample collection, resource extension, and regional exploration. The bulk sample drilling will also allow the Company to test resource continuity at depth. Resource extension drilling aims to demonstrate potential to expand the existing resource, while limited shallow exploration holes will test targets on the Discovery Zone. Depending on results and remaining budget, additional drilling may be considered during the season.
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+.
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 prefeasibility study's environmental assessment. The WSP team is expected on site on June 15.
Field activities are conducted from the Company's existing exploration camp, with a maximum of 20 people on site 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 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. Assay results are expected in the fall of 2026.
The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Eric Kinnan, P.Geo., an independent consulting geologist and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
