Quebec mine turns phosphate waste into saleable calcium carbonate
A phosphate mining company in Quebec has developed a marketable form of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) as a secondary product alongside its purified phosphoric acid (PPA), creating a new income source for its partnership with a Canadian technology firm.
The development comes from Arianne Phosphate, which operates the Lac à Paul project in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. In collaboration with Travertine Technologies, the company has proven its process can generate PCC—a high-purity, finely ground mineral used in paper, plastics, paints, and construction materials—while continuing to produce PPA. Independent testing by a Canadian building materials manufacturer confirmed the PCC met their technical requirements for use in various applications.
Because the PCC produced through the Arianne-Travertine process permanently stores carbon dioxide and turns a traditional phosphate waste stream into a saleable product, it provides the joint venture an additional revenue stream while helping Canada’s building materials industry lower its carbon footprint. Earlier this month, Arianne announced its PPA met specifications for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production, a key step toward securing North American supply chains.
Read Also: MA Financial assets rise to nearly 16 billion
The company has since sent additional PPA samples to a water treatment chemical producer and a liquid fertilizer manufacturer, with evaluation results expected shortly. The Lac à Paul deposit contains the world’s largest undeveloped phosphate reserve, featuring ore that is geologically unique and easier to refine into high-purity products. Unlike most phosphate mines, Arianne’s process minimizes waste, further enhancing its economic and environmental advantages.
New revenue stream cuts costs with PCC
The partnership with Travertine also reduces operational costs by recycling sulfuric acid and eliminating gypsum disposal needs. This efficiency, combined with the new PCC revenue stream, strengthens investor confidence in the project. Separately, Arianne granted 200,000 stock options to CEO Jeffrey Beck as part of his compensation package, subject to regulatory approval and vesting over time.
The PCC produced through this process was validated in real-world applications by a Canadian building materials manufacturer, confirming its suitability for construction uses. Its fine particle size and high purity make it particularly valuable in cement, concrete, and asphalt shingles. Unlike conventional PCC derived from limestone, Arianne’s method produces the mineral as a co-product of phosphate refining, eliminating the need for separate mining and further reducing the environmental footprint of building materials production.
Read Also: Robeco introduces smarter indexing for Australian stocks
Waste-to-value: Phosphate mining’s gypsum breakthrough
The solution also resolves a persistent challenge in phosphate mining: the disposal of phosphogypsum, a waste byproduct that accumulates in vast stockpiles. Most phosphate operations generate phosphogypsum as a byproduct. Arianne’s high-purity phosphate concentrate, however, yields a lower-volume, marketable gypsum derivative instead of disposal waste. This approach aligns with Travertine’s goal of eliminating waste streams in chemical production, positioning the partnership as a model for sustainable phosphate processing.
A 2013 feasibility study projected the Lac à Paul deposit would yield an apatite concentrate grading 39% P₂O₅, a standard for high-quality phosphate ore. The deposit’s igneous nature allows for more efficient processing than sedimentary sources, which often require extra refining steps. This results in premium-priced PPA meeting strict industrial standards, including those for lithium iron phosphate batteries, where purity directly affects battery performance. The same concentrate also produces PCC with minimal contaminants, ensuring it meets the rigorous specifications of building material manufacturers.
Travertine’s technology, developed since 2022, differs from conventional phosphoric acid production, which relies on sulfuric acid and generates phosphogypsum waste. Instead, the electrochemical process recycles sulfuric acid on-site, eliminating gypsum disposal and cutting operational costs. This approach is particularly advantageous in regions where sulfuric acid transportation or disposal presents logistical or environmental challenges. The process’s scalability, demonstrated through pilot production, suggests potential industry-wide adoption, transforming waste management practices. Raphael Gaudreault, Travertine’s Chief Operating Officer and Qualified Person under Regulation 43-101, has verified the technical accuracy of the production claims.
