Sigma Lithium Corp (TSX-V:SGML, NASDAQ:SGML) announced a big increase in its Grota do Cirilo mineral resource to 109 million tonnes, marking the operation as the world's fourth-largest lithium complex.
The resource comprises 94.3 million tonnes of measured and indicated resource at an average grade of 1.40% lithium oxide (Li2O), along with an additional 14.6 million tonnes of inferred resource at 1.37% Li2O.
This marks a 27% increase from the previous technical report in January 2023.
The Grota do Cirilo operation in Brazil is now the world's fourth-largest operating industrial pre-chemical lithium beneficiation complex, fully integrated with spodumene mining operations.
Sigma Lithium aims to triple its production capacity of "Quintuple Zero Green Lithium,” which signifies zero greenhouse gas emissions, zero harmful chemicals, zero waste, zero child labor, and zero water consumption in the production of its lithium concentrate.
The mineral resource expansion supports the belief that Brazil can become a significant anchor supplier of industrialized lithium materials for the global electric vehicle industry. The company plans to seamlessly incorporate the increased mineral resources into its current open pit mineral reserves, and a revised pre-feasibility study is underway.
The 2024 drill campaign is expected to further increase the Grota do Cirilo mineral resource to 150 million tonnes.
Sigma Lithium is focusing on the project's "J-shaped" lithium corridor that connects existing resources, with additional drilling targeting the Barreiro Extension pegmatite and other areas along the NDC-Murial strike. The company plans to drill 57 additional spodumene pegmatite targets within its mining concessions.
The increased mineral resources offer strategic flexibility, potentially supporting the development of a fourth Greentech industrial pre-chemical beneficiation line.
In a statement, Sigma Lithium emphasized its commitment to sustainability, low production costs, and delivering the most sustainable lithium concentrate in the world.
"The sheer scale of the mineral resource revisions increases Sigma's strategic flexibility to consider a fourth Greentech industrial pre-chemical beneficiation line, while also contemplating additional industrial integration further downstream into the production of low-cost lithium sulphate chemicals,” CEO Ana Cabral-Gardner said.
“The potential expansion of our current operations will benefit from significant economies of scale, including existing infrastructure and cost sharing, as compared to our initial phase 1 development at Grota do Cirilo. Altogether, the conclusion of this year-long drill campaign represents tangible value creation for Brazil, for our communities at Vale do Jequitinhonha and our global shareholders."
Sigma’s co-heads of geology, Iran Zan and Dyonne Hage, expressed confidence in the sizable lithium corridor at the Sigma mineral concessions, and emphasized the interconnectivity of Grota do Cirilo's "J-shaped" strike and the optimistic outlook for NDC-Murial.
Sigma Lithium's Grota do Cirilo project has gained attention for its substantial mineral resource estimates and its positioning as one of the largest operating integrated lithium producers globally. The project includes both mining operations and an industrial pre-chemical lithium beneficiation complex, making it a fully integrated facility in the lithium supply chain. Sigma Lithium aims to contribute to the global electric vehicle industry's demand for lithium while emphasizing sustainable and environmentally friendly production practices.