On June 23, 2025, Rock Tech Lithium Inc. announced it has secured $388,074 from Ontario’s Critical Minerals Innovation Fund to advance an ore sorting process for low-grade spodumene ores at its Georgia Lake site near Beardmore, Ontario. The initiative, carried out in partnership with Queen’s University and Stark Technologies, aims to achieve an 80% lithium recovery rate from ores containing 0.3–0.5% Li₂O, grades traditionally viewed as uneconomic.
Under the three-party collaboration, Queen’s University will lead research and laboratory testing through its Critical Minerals Processing Lab, while Stark Technologies provides advanced sorting hardware and technical expertise. Rock Tech Lithium will supply ore samples, oversee pilot programs, and guide the pathway to commercial deployment. The project supports Ontario’s critical minerals strategy by enhancing resource utilization, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening the local clean-energy supply chain.
“We’re proud to have the support of the Government of Ontario through the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund,” said Mirco Wojnarowicz, Chief Executive Officer at Rock Tech. “This project brings together academia, technology, and industry to solve one of the key challenges in lithium production – making lower-grade resources viable. It’s a major step forward for sustainable critical minerals development in Ontario.”
“Ontario is charging ahead as a global leader in critical minerals – and the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund is powering that momentum,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “This project with Rock Tech, Queen’s University, and Stark Technologies is exactly the kind of smart collaboration that moves critical minerals from concept to production – strengthening our supply chains, creating local jobs, and driving clean energy progress. This is how we lead; this is how we win, and this is how we build a stronger Ontario for generations to come.”
In a separate development, Rock Tech has executed a revised field exploration agreement with four First Nations groups—the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, Red Rock Indian Band, and Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek—to guide consultation and accommodation activities at Georgia Lake. As part of the agreement, Rock Tech will issue an aggregate of 1,000,000 common share purchase warrants (250,000 to each group) exercisable for five years at a price equal to the TSX Venture Exchange closing price on the grant date. The previously agreed 750,000 warrants have been cancelled, subject to TSX-V approval.
Additionally, the company has granted 410,000 stock options to directors, officers, and employees under its Stock Option Plan. Of these, 260,000 options were allocated to directors and officers, all exercisable at $1.00 per share, vesting immediately and expiring June 19, 2030.
Source: Rock Tech Lithium
