Electric Metals Ore Sorting Assessment Indicates Potential to More Than Double Emily Manganese Feed Grade While Recovering 92% of Contained Manganese
Electric’s ore sorting study boosts the Emily manganese project’s grade outlook, though going concern risks remain.
Electric Metals (USA) Limited (EML) announced positive results from a simulated ore sorting assessment conducted by Rados International Technologies on drill core from the Emily Manganese Deposit. The study evaluated the potential to upgrade sub-cut-off mineralization, which falls below the company’s current 10% Mn cutoff, to economic grades.
The technical assessment focused on two sorting methods. Particle-scale sorting upgraded an average drill core dataset from approximately 8.2% Mn to approximately 17.5% Mn, recovering 92% of contained manganese and rejecting 57% of material prior to processing. Bulk ore sorting upgraded the average grade to approximately 13.1% Mn. Additionally, a high-selectivity scenario at an 18% Mn threshold produced concentrate grades approaching 33% Mn. The reliability of the technology was validated by a strong correlation between XRF measurements and lab assays, with R² values of 0.97 for Mn and 0.98 for Fe.
Strategically, the study suggests that upgrading lower-grade material could reduce downstream processing, transportation, and tailings management costs.
In legal matters, wholly-owned subsidiary North Star Manganese Inc. is a defendant in a lawsuit filed April 21, 2026, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The suit alleges a breach of historical royalty and mining arrangements. Cooperative Mineral Resources, LLC (CMR) is required to defend and indemnify North Star.
Electric Metals (USA) Limited (EML) reported that ore sorting results validate the optimistic economics outlined in the August 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). By upgrading lower-grade material and rejecting waste early, the company can significantly lower mining dilution, crushing, grinding, and leaching expenses.
The assessment was conducted on drill core as a simulation rather than a full pilot plant or engineering study. While the results are promising, further engineering and economic evaluation is required before the process is formally integrated into the project's financial model.
This news aligns with the company's ongoing strategy to optimize the Emily deposit and advance the downstream HPMSM/EMM processing facilities. It does not trigger an immediate change in capital requirements or development milestones.
Additionally, the Crow Wing County lawsuit introduces a minor legal and financial risk, though indemnification by CMR mitigates immediate exposure.
Electric Metals (USA) Limited (EML) is a pre-revenue junior miner focused on developing the North Star Manganese Project in Emily, Minnesota. The company’s flagship asset is the Emily Manganese Deposit, which is recognized as the highest-grade manganese resource in North America.
The project is currently in the advanced exploration stage, with a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) completed in August 2025. The company is now transitioning toward pre-feasibility studies, permitting, and strategic partnerships. The PEA highlights include an after-tax NPV10% of US$1.39 billion, an after-tax IRR of 43.5%, and initial capital expenditure of US$474.8 million. The target production is 100,000 tonnes per year of high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) and 10,000 tonnes per year of electrolytic manganese metal (EMM).
Electric Metals (USA) Limited is establishing a fully domestic U.S. supply chain for high-purity manganese to support electric vehicle batteries, defense, and industrial markets, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign sources, primarily from China.