Lithium Australia test produces 99.57% lithium carbonate

THE DRILL SERGEANT: Perth-based lithium play Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) announced the production of more than seven kilograms of high-purity lithium carbonate from a 10 day continuous mini-plant processing trial the company recently completed at a Perth laboratory.

The trial was conducted using processing technology that has been licensed to Lithium Australia and resulted in the production of a total of 7.7kg of high-purity lithium carbonate derived from lepidolite (lithium mica) sourced from the Coolgardie Rare Metals Venture (Lithium Australia 80%, and Focus Minerals [ASX:FML]), located in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.

Earlier this year, lithium Australia claimed its first two mini-plant tests to be the world’s first successful, continuous lithium extraction tests using hydrometallurgy on hard rock.

This process being implemented by the company was developed by Strategic Metallurgy, with which Lithium Australia has struck a strategic alliance.

“Lithium carbonate produced from the continuous mini-plant test achieved a high-purity of 99.57 per cent with 94 per cent recovery from leach liquor,” Lithium Australia said in its ASX announcement.

“Further mini-plant runs are anticipated in the near future and will include material sourced from Lithium Australia’s other projects.”

Email: info@lithium-au.com

Website: www.lithium-au.com