Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) has had its trademark application for its 100% owned LieNA™ lithium extraction process accepted for registration.
The process extracts lithium from spodumene in a caustic solution.
The company is also in the process of commercialising the Sileach™ lithium extraction process, which is currently being trialled in pilot plant operations in New South Wales.
Lithium Australia continues to fund research and development to unlock novel ways to extract lithium from host rock and ensure the best process is used for each individual ore-body.
Adrian Griffin, managing director, commented:
"Lithium Australia’s research and development is critical to its business strategy where it will match the most appropriate lithium extraction process to ensure that each resource can be processed in the most economic way."
Project portfolio
Lithium Australia has projects in the following jurisdictions:
- Western Australia: The Gascoyne; Pilgangoora; Ravensthorpe; Seabrook; Lepidolite Hill; Greenbushes; Lake Johnston; Donnelly River; and Widgiemooltha projects;
- Northern Territory: Bynoe;
- Queensland: Cape York; and
- Mexico: Growing 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), Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) and Lefroy Exploration Ltd (ASX:LEX).
Electra project
Lithium Australia is earning a 49% stake in the Electra project at Sonora in northwest Mexico, and has an option to extend that to 65% from project owner, Canada’s Alix Resources Corp (AIX-TSX:V).
This continued research and development will be critical in developing an economic extraction process for its Electra Project.
Lithium Australia and its joint venture partner continue planning to drill at the Electra Project which is located in close proximity to Bacanora’s Sonora project which is currently the world’s largest lithium clay resource.
Early signs are promising for the joint venture partners, with a third of samples from lithium-rich clay layers in October 2016 Agua Fria discovery, assaying above 1,000 parts per million (ppm) lithium.
The lithium clay horizons now extend around 4.5 kilometres along strike and indicators of up to 800 metres in width.