Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) has awarded Rock Tech Lithium a $262 500 grant to evaluate and validate the use of locally sourced crude tall oil as a potential flotation reagent for lithium processing.

Crude tall oil is produced as a byproduct in Ontario's pulp and paper sector.

CMIF believes the project will support supply chain development and cross-sector collaboration.

Rock Tech will undertake the endeavour with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen's University, bringing together Ontario-based industrial supply, critical minerals development and research expertise.

The project aims to connect Ontario's forestry and critical minerals sectors by creating a potential new market for forestry-derived products in lithium processing. If successful, the byproduct produced by the pulp and paper sector could serve as a new way to monetise this output, while enhancing the sustainability of lithium processing in Ontario.

Rock Tech will evaluate whether locally sourced crude tall oil could support more localised reagent supply, provide data for future technical and economic optimisation work and reduce reliance on imported or conventional processing inputs.

The initiative aligns with Rock Tech's broader Ontario mine-to-converter strategy, which includes the Georgia Lake lithium project and the proposed Red Rock lithium converter project, as part of a made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain.

“As we face a common threat from China, Premier Ford launched Fortress North America, designed to strengthen the resilience of Ontario’s mineral sector while we work to advance domestic mining projects. In order to secure the resources essential for advanced manufacturing, energy security, and national defence, Ontario is stepping up by investing $262 500 in Rock Tech as part of our plan to build mines faster and invest in made-in-Ontario innovation,” says Ontario Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce.

CMIF previously supported Rock Tech with funding for an ore sorting programme, which identified a potential pathway to reducing future crushing and concentrator capital costs by up to 50% based on preliminary testwork on Georgia Lake material. Further engineering, validation and technical studies are ongoing in this regard.