Cypress Development Corp (TSX-V:CYP, OTCQB:CYDVF) has reported a successful pilot plant start-up for extraction testing of lithium-bearing claystone from its 100%-owned Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada.
The company said the first full test was completed with 72 hours of continuous operation and it expects testing to continue as it awaits final results from assays.
“The progress so far has been positive, and we are pleased with the initial results,” Cypress Development president and CEO Bill Willoughby said in a statement.
READ: Cypress Development begins testing lithium-bearing claystone from Nevada project at its new pilot plant
During the first test, Cypress said sampling was conducted at six-hour intervals. Analyses of solution samples at various points throughout the plant were conducted using the ICP (inductively coupled plasma) unit on-site.
Results of the performance within areas of the pilot plant included:
- Leaching performed as expected, yielding solution grades of 350 to 700 ppm lithium;
- Lithium grades increased and decreased based on material addition to leach;
- The Lionex Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process appears to be functioning well, yielding a return solution back to leach of less than 10 ppm lithium;
- The primary and secondary impurity removal stages were combined to improve efficiency and are delivering low impurity solutions to the DLE process;
- Solid-liquid separation and washing of the tailings appear to be performing very well;
- Operating improvements are being implemented.
“These preliminary results are encouraging, with expected to better-than-expected values,” Willoughby added.
“Final results are pending assays of these solution samples along with the samples of residues and precipitates, which have been sent to ALS Global.”
Cypress Development Corp (TSX-V:CYP, OTCQB:CYDVF) is a Canadian advanced-stage lithium exploration company, focused on developing its 100%-owned Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada, USA.
Work completed by Cypress led to the discovery of a world-class resource of lithium-bearing claystone adjacent to the Albemarle Silver Peak mine, North America's only lithium brine operation. The results of a positive pre-feasibility study for the Clayton Valley Lithium Project were announced by Cypress Development in August 2020.
Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com