Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) is a dedicated developer of disruptive lithium extraction technologies, and has strategic alliances with a number of companies, potentially providing access to a diversified lithium mineral inventory.
The company has now received a grant of $195,632 from the Western Australian Government, supporting its Sileach™ lithium processing technology.
The grant will fund test work being undertaken at Murdoch University, Perth, on solutions generated from batch testing the Sileach™ process and will extend to solutions then produced from continuous pilot testing.
It is anticipated the latter will be available in September 2016.
If the laboratory and pilot plant testing is successful, Lithium Australia plans to establish a number of processing hubs with locations targeted around growing lithium resource bases in Australia, North America and Europe.
Lithium Australia portfolio
Lithium Australia now has projects in the following jurisdictions:
- Western Australia: The Gascoyne; Pilgangoora; Ravensthorpe; Seabrook; Lepidolite Hill;
Greenbushes; Lake Johnston; and Widgiemooltha projects;
- Northern Territory: Bynoe;
- Queensland: Cape York; and
- Mexico: A 25% interest in the Electra lithium project.
Within these projects the company has various corporate alliances and joint ventures with Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS), Focus Minerals Ltd (ASX:FML), Alix Resources Corp (CVE:AIX), Cazaly Resources Ltd (ASX:CAZ), Tungsten Mining NL (ASX:TGN) and Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC).
Sileach™ processing technology
The Sileach™ process is designed to recover lithium from silicates without the expensive roasting step that has long been the main stay of the lithium recovery process.
ANSTO Minerals, a division of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation has partnered with Lithium Australia to develop the Sileach™ processing technology.
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