Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN) has successfully produced lithium chloride concentrates grading up to 57,890 ppm lithium with grades of calcium, magnesium and manganese of less than 1 ppm.
The average grade of the lithium chloride concentrates was 55,000 ppm lithium, a benchmark for the production of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
The lithium chloride was produced from lithium brine from Anson’s Paradox Brine Project in Moab, US with lithium grades above 100 ppm.
The process flowsheet for increasing the lithium concentrate was designed by Anson’s technical consultant, Tom Currin of Southwest Technologies.
The design uses equipment that is easily upscaled to commercial production levels and readily available in the US where all the test work has been conducted.
Potential premium pricing
The success of reaching this concentration level with low impurities indicates that Anson will be able to achieve a high quality, low impurity product that is likely to attract premium pricing in the market with a focus on the rising demand for electric vehicles (EV’s).
The highly concentrated lithium chloride solution is continuing to be processed through the Southwest designed production process at several different equipment supplier locations in the US.
Southwest expects to produce lithium products for consideration by potential customers, offtake partners and investors in the coming weeks.