Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (CVE: RCK) (OTCMKTS: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) has received a Northern Ontario innovation award for work exploring a forestry by-product for lithium processing.
Rock Tech and Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper jointly received the 2026 Northern Innovators Award at the Cen-Can Expo Gala Dinner on Tuesday. Mining Life & Exploration News presented the award in Thunder Bay.
The project examines crude tall oil, a by-product from pulp and paper production, as a potential flotation reagent. Flotation reagents help mining companies separate valuable minerals from unwanted material during processing.
Additionally, the Province of Ontario supports the research through its Critical Minerals Innovation Fund. Rock Tech, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen’s University are collaborating on the project.
The partners aim to determine whether Ontario’s forestry industry could supply a locally sourced reagent for lithium processing. Meanwhile, the research could reduce reliance on other sources while creating another use for an existing industrial by-product.
Mining Life & Exploration News has covered the mining industry in Northern Ontario and Quebec since 1994. The quarterly publication reports on mining and exploration projects, equipment, investment and industry developments. Additionally, it connects mining companies, junior explorers, suppliers, governments and investors through its publications and industry events, including the Cen-Can Resource Expo.
Rock Tech CEO Mirco Wojnarowicz said the award recognizes the opportunities created by collaboration between Northern Ontario industries. He also said combining forestry, critical minerals and university research could help develop local solutions.
However, researchers must successfully validate crude tall oil before Rock Tech can consider broader applications. The research could subsequently help the company assess technical and economic improvements at its Georgia Lake Lithium Project.
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Proposed system links extraction and processing
The Georgia Lake project forms part of Rock Tech’s plan to develop an integrated lithium supply chain in Northern Ontario. Additionally, the company intends to connect the proposed mine with its planned Red Rock Lithium Converter.
The proposed system would link lithium extraction and processing within the region. Consequently, Rock Tech aims to establish more of its mine-to-converter supply chain in Northern Ontario.
Rock Tech’s mine-to-converter strategy would link its Georgia Lake lithium mine with the proposed Red Rock Converter in Northwestern Ontario. The mine would produce spodumene concentrate for conversion into battery-grade lithium products at Red Rock. Additionally, the converter would have capacity to produce up to 32,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent annually, creating a more integrated domestic supply chain.
