European Lithium (ASX:EUR, FRA:PF8) has outlined a spodumene concentrate of 5.3% Li2O which was produced by Dense Media Separation, with magnetic separation achieved, from the wholly-owned Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria.
Samples are now being assessed for suitability in glass-ceramic production by a leading European producer.
Steve Kesler, CEO, commented on the importance of the concentrate:
"The successful use of sensor sorting to reject waste dilution from Run of Mine is important for the economic mining and processing of the generally narrow pegmatite veins at Wolfsberg.
"The ability to produce an early DMS concentrate opens up the potential to fast track lithium sales into the European glass-ceramic market whilst the conversion plant is being developed.
"We will now be working hard over the next 3 months on the conversion of spodumene concentrate from Wolfsberg into battery grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide."
Wolfsberg is located 270 kilometres south-west of Vienna, with good local infrastructure and sources of energy nearby.
Metallurgical testwork
Mining of the pegmatite veins will result in a degree of waste dilution both from internal dilution from interbedding of waste in the pegmatite veins and external dilution from the hanging and footwalls.
Removal of this waste would be beneficial in increasing Li2O grade and reducing process plant size.
Next steps
Test work has now commenced on flotation and magnetic separation to produce a flotation concentrate of 6% Li2O and by-products of feldspar, quartz and mica.
Test work into the conversion of spodumene concentrate into lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide is being carried out in parallel using the DMS spodumene concentrate.