Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN) has achieved bromine recovery in excess of 90% and iodine recovery in excess of 70% from laboratory test work on samples from the Paradox Brine Project in Utah, USA.
Hazen Research Inc was engaged by the company to conduct bench-scale test work on the potential to recover high-volume minerals boron, bromine and iodine from brine at the project.
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Base case testing demonstrated that each product can be successfully recovered from the brine using established technologies.
The company has started discussions with interested parties in these products, which have the potential to enable multiple revenue streams from processing Paradox Basin brine.
Boron recovery test work is continuing, as is optimisation test work to improve product recovery and reagent consumptions with the aim of informing a PFS for a commercial plant.
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The US is the second largest producer of bromine after Israel, supplying about 30% of the world market.
Since 2007 all bromine production in the US has been at Southern Arkansas’ Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation which contains the highest grade of bromine (5,000 to 6,000 ppm) at a depth of 7,500 to 8,000 feet.
This depth is similar to that of Clastic 31 in the Paradox Basin at 7,080 feet.
The laboratory scale test work was performed on samples from clastic zone 29 and 43 collected by Anson during the re-entry drilling of Cane Creek 21-1 well in March and April 2018.
Bromine recovery experiments were carried out using pre-test brine samples and were performed in a resin kettle equipped with an overhead mixer, where chlorine was supplied to the reactor via a fritted glass bubbler.
Earlier this month Anson commenced re-entry drilling of the Skyline Unit 1 well at the Paradox Brine Project which is set to target a depth of 7,000 feet to sample brine from 5 separate underground clastic zones.
Brine from 5 clastic zones will be assayed for lithium, iodine, bromine, boron and other minerals.
The company is now assessing how to incorporate product production in the design of the industrial scale in-filed pilot plant.
- Jessica Cummins