Cypress Development Corp (TSX-V:CYP, OTCQB:CYDVF) has announced a milestone for its pilot processing plant in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, USA, namely that it has delivered concentrated lithium solution to two labs in Canada for further testing.
"About 4,000 liters of concentrated lithium chloride solution have been delivered from the Pilot Plant to two Canadian laboratories," said Bill Willoughby, CEO of Cypress Development, in a statement. "Each laboratory is now working to further treat the solutions, one to produce lithium carbonate, and the other, lithium hydroxide, as the final end product.
"These results will then be used to determine what additional steps are needed, if any, to attain battery-grade standards and evaluate the alternatives for producing these products in the ongoing feasibility study," he added.
READ: Cypress Development closes acquisition of Enertopia’s Clayton Valley lithium claystone project in Nevada
The pilot plant is testing material from the company's lithium-bearing claystone deposit at the Clayton Valley project, also in Nevada.
The company said it was "pleased" with the progress and results to date.
"Recoveries in the pilot plant remain as expected, with lithium extraction from claystone in the 80 to 85% range," it said. "Tailings testing has preliminarily identified characteristics that will allow for dry stacking with minimal water entrainment. The pilot plant is also focused on minimizing water usage and has operated successfully with an emphasis on 100% recycling of all process water streams within the facility."
The facility has just marked its sixth month of operation with the completion of 11 separate continuous tests conducted on a 24-hour per day basis, over periods ranging from 3 to 14 days.
It will continue to operate during the summer with a work schedule of seven days on and five days off.
Cypress Development is a Canada-based lithium explorer, focused on developing its 100%-owned Clayton Valley project, which it is advancing towards completing a feasibility study and permitting, with the goal of becoming a domestic producer of lithium for the growing electric vehicle (EV) and battery storage market.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com