TITLE: AI Satellites Identify Vast Lithium Deposit in Quebec Project

AI Satellites Expand Lithium Exploration Target in Quebec

An Australian exploration company's AI-powered satellite system has identified a potential lithium resource of 329 million metric tons of ore at a project in Quebec's James Bay region, positioning it among the largest hard-rock lithium prospects in the area.

Fleet Space Technologies announced the findings for the Cisco lithium project, owned by Q2 Metals. The estimate, based on subsurface mapping, equates to about 360 million tons of potential material and supports rapid drill site recommendations within 48 hours. The target grades approximately 1% lithium oxide, contained within spodumene-bearing pegmatite bodies.

The discovery highlights the growing role of digital tools in mineral exploration, allowing for efficient mapping before formal resource estimates are established.

Technology Behind the Subsurface Mapping

Fleet Space's ExoSphere platform integrates a constellation of small satellites with ground-based sensors to image underground structures. The system deploys battery-powered Geode devices on the surface, which capture ambient seismic noise from sources like wind, waves and human activity. These readings are transmitted directly to satellites, enabling non-invasive tomography without the need for explosives.

By fusing seismic data with gravity, magnetic and geological surveys, the AI algorithms generate detailed maps of subsurface zones exhibiting properties similar to known lithium deposits. At Cisco, this approach revealed extensions of lithium mineralization potentially beyond the project's current boundaries, suggesting district-scale potential in the James Bay area.

Exploration teams leverage these models to prioritize drilling targets, aiming to convert the conceptual target into a defined resource. The platform's ability to update models with new borehole data within 48 hours creates a feedback loop, refining subsequent drill placements for greater precision.

Cisco Project in the James Bay Lithium Corridor

Located along the Billy Diamond Highway with road access, the Cisco project lies within Quebec's James Bay region, a prolific area for hard-rock lithium along greenstone belts. The region already hosts multiple spodumene deposits and benefits from established infrastructure, including roads, ports and abundant hydropower.

Quebec's reliance on hydroelectricity enables lower-emission processing compared to coal-dependent grids elsewhere, enhancing the appeal of local lithium for battery production. Industry analysts view James Bay as a key corridor for North American lithium supply, critical as electric vehicle adoption and renewable energy storage drive demand.

The International Energy Agency projects sharp increases in lithium needs for clean energy technologies by 2030. With new mines typically requiring nearly a decade from discovery to production, efficiencies in early exploration like those at Cisco could accelerate supply timelines, bolstering confidence in domestic contracts for automakers and battery manufacturers.

Implications for Supply Chains and Environmental Considerations

A confirmed large resource at Cisco could anchor a Canadian lithium supply chain, linking Quebec mines to refining and cathode production facilities. The region's low-carbon hydropower footprint positions Canadian lithium favorably against imports from higher-emission sources.

However, the project falls within the traditional territory of the Eeyou Istchee Cree Nation, where Indigenous communities hold historical land-use rights and influence mining decisions. Quebec's regulations mandate environmental assessments and consultations with Indigenous governments, ensuring projects address local impacts.

ExoSphere's targeted approach minimizes surface disturbance by focusing drilling on high-priority zones, reducing the need for extensive access tracks and pads in sensitive areas. While this lowers initial environmental footprints, broader discussions on mine design, water management and land reclamation remain essential.

AI's Role in Drill Site Selection

Fleet Space's algorithms analyze uploaded datasets—seismic, gravity, magnetic and geological—to identify rock properties matching established lithium signatures. The software ranks anomalies, highlights structural trends conducive to pegmatite formation and delivers interactive maps and cross-sections for geologists.

This process enables teams to select drill sites informed by predictive modeling. As drilling progresses, incoming data refines the models iteratively, improving accuracy and efficiency.

Broader Applications and Limitations

Beyond lithium, similar ambient noise tomography and AI methods are being tested for gold and other metals, aiming to optimize exploration budgets amid global demand for critical minerals. Fleet Space is expanding ExoSphere deployments through multi-year agreements across continents, aligning with efforts to secure supplies for energy transitions.

For Canada, a validated Cisco resource could strengthen domestic processing capabilities, reducing reliance on overseas imports. Yet, the current estimate remains conceptual, not a formal resource or reserve. Achieving compliance with Canadian reporting standards will demand extensive step-out drilling, denser surveys and independent verification.

ExoSphere's predictions depend on calibrated assumptions about seismic wave propagation in rocks, necessitating ground-truthing with core samples. Despite these caveats, the technology represents a step forward in enhancing discovery probabilities for battery metals essential to low-carbon economies.

The findings stem from ongoing exploration at Cisco, with Q2 Metals reporting spodumene intervals in thick pegmatites. Further work will determine if the target's scale materializes into economically viable deposits.