David Archer, Savannah Resources Plc’s (LON:SAV) chief executive, is increasingly confident Mina Do Barroso (MdB) in Portugal can be the equal of Western Australia’s successful lithium mines.
Metal tests have indicated spodumene concentrate from MdB can be an industry standard, he told Proactive.
WATCH: Savannah Resources able to produce 'low impurity, higher margin' lithium
Spodumene in the source rock has been confirmed as having a lithium content of 1.7% Li2O with low impurities.
Resource estimates at MdB have indicated a total recovery of at least 80% at a concentrate grade of over 6% Li2O is likely to be achieved.
Lithium specialist Hatch has just started work on a scoping study for a mine.
That should be ready this quarter, said Archer, after which Savannah will move straight to a full feasibility study.
“We are moving as fast as we can at MdB,” he said.
Elsewhere, in Oman, all approvals have granted for the Maqail copper project while one (of eight) is outstanding at Mahab 4, also copper.
Final evaluation by the Omani authorities is the last step, with mining permits expected before the end of 2018.