Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) has recently commenced stage II SiLeach® processing trials after stage I work successfully generated lithium solutions from mine waste.
Stage II work has used the SiLeach process to separate and remove calcium and fluorine impurities from the stage I lithium solutions.
Lithium Australia’s managing director Adrian Griffin said: “The success of the new pilot plant facility at ANSTO augurs well for our scale-up aspirations.
“It's encouraging to note the relative ease with which we've achieved targets to date, particularly in view of the feed material used – in this case, contaminated mine waste from the Kalgoorlie region.
SiLeach could have multiple applications
“SiLeach is ideal for recovering lithium from such materials.
“We're also enthusiastic about other applications for some of these process steps; in particular, the recovery of lithium from brine, which currently involves lengthy solar evaporation and is subject to the vagaries of the weather.”
READ: Lithium Australia receives German approval for Sadisdorf licence transfer
Lithium Australia’s recently acquired 100% owned Sadisdorf Lithium Tin Project in Germany is an example of a company asset where the SiLeach process has substantial value-add potential.