Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL) has revealed a resource estimate for by-products (quartz, feldspar and mica) from the spodumene bearing pegmatite at its Piedmont Lithium Project in North Carolina, U.S.
Mineral resource estimate for by-products – Piedmont Lithium Project
The by-product resource estimate is based on the same geologic model that resulted in a maiden lithium resource of 16.2 million tonnes at 1.12% lithium oxide announced on June 14, 2018.
Piedmont president and chief executive officer Keith D. Phillips said: “Having confirmed a flow sheet to recover by-product quartz, feldspar and mica, we have now demonstrated a large-scale resource for each.
“We look forward to releasing an amended scoping study in the next several weeks and expect the update to further highlight the important advantages of our unique location.”
READ: Piedmont Lithium produces quartz, feldspar and mica as by-products from lithium project
Piedmont recently completed a bench-scale metallurgical test work program to produce quartz, feldspar and mica.
Significantly, initial results demonstrate the commercial potential for each by-product, and Piedmont has delivered bench-scale samples of feldspar and mica concentrates to potential offtake partners for further testing.
The company has opened confidential discussions with several parties for offtake of all three by-products.
Quartz
Quartz (also known as silica) is produced commercially from a wide variety of deposits, including pegmatite.
Silica sand and quartz are economical sources of silica (SiO2) used in glass and ceramics manufacture.
Feldspar
Feldspar is produced commercially from rocks of granitic composition such as pegmatite in addition to feldspar quartz sands.
Feldspar may be used as a source of aluminium (Al), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and silicon (Si) in the manufacture of glass and in ceramics.
Mica
Mica occurs as several minerals (e.g. biotite, phlogopite or muscovite).
Muscovite is most commonly sourced from pegmatites and granitic rocks and finds application as an insulator, in fillers, in plastics, paint and drilling mud.