Anson Resources Ltd’s (ASX:ASN) sample testing of brines extracted from Clastic Zone 31 at its Utah Paradox Lithium Project could be a potential share price catalyst.
Having successfully extracted brine from Clastic Zone 31 during the re-entry drilling of the Gold Bar Unit 2, a bulk sample is being tested to obtain finite results.
Bruce Richardson, managing director, said: “Successfully extracting brine from the Clastic Zone 31 significantly de-risks the project.
“It takes Anson one step closer to producing lithium carbonate on schedule in April 2018, and supports fast tracking an in-field pilot plant, planning of which is well progressed.”
Processing to validate previous test work
The sample from Clastic Zone 31 will be processed in a bench top plant to validate earlier test work on a synthetic brine.
This showed that lithium carbonate and other products were expected to be able to be produced from the brine.
The results of the bench-top processing will be used in the design of an in-field pilot plant, to further validate that lithium and other minerals can be extracted from the brine.
Assessing project economics
Sampling the assay should also assist management in understanding the economics of the project.
Further metallurgical test work will begin on the possible economics of other mineral products, including boron, bromine, iodine and magnesium.