Advanced Australian lithium developer, Core Lithium (ASX: CXO) today announced the production of battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LH) from spodumene mineral concentrate from the Finniss Lithium Project.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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Scoping level test work on Finniss Project spodumene mineral concentrate sample has produced ‘battery grade’ lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LH)
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Core’s LH satisfied all impurity specifications of the commonly referenced battery grade specification from Livent1
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Conversion to battery grade LH used the conventional ‘direct’ flowsheet
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Excellent extraction and recovery of lithium to LH crystallisation steps (>95%)
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Core believes Finniss lithium concentrate quality suitable for the high-end Lithium Battery, Renewable Energy and EV industries
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Customer demand for Core’s high-quality concentrate and spodumene prices increasing rapidly – Core aiming to complete new offtake deals in due course
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Core on-track to update Finniss Lithium Concentrate DFS ahead of FID Q3 2021
The scoping level test work program has demonstrated that the conventional ‘direct’ flowsheet can be applied to the processing of the mineral concentrate sample to produce battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate.
In light of the success of this program and the recently granted Federal Government Major Projects status, Core is now considering the obvious down-stream value potential given the Project’s synergies with the adjacent Middle-Arm industrial infrastructure near Darwin. As well as the alignment with Australia’s Modern Manufacturing strategy, and the rapid expansion of global lithium battery supply chains to meet the demands of the ever-increasing LIB, electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy markets.
Demonstration of the production of battery grade LH in this program provides Core and its customers confidence in the value of the Finniss Project, its importance to Australia’s northern regional economy, and strengthening Australia’s position further downstream in the global lithium battery supply chain.
Core remains focussed on completing the Finniss Lithium Project concentrate DFS and finalising current live off-take negotiations ahead of reaching a Final Investment Decision (FID) in Q3 2021.
