General Discussion Topics, page-142587

I think it is highly unlikely that the lithium carbonate plant will be renovated to a stage where it can produce battery grade LiCO.

However, there is a whopping big kiln still there (and it works). We know this because we have been told it is run every month to ensure it does).

Having that and the rest of what was left behind at NAL, might be all that is needed (without too much re-engineering to produce lithium chloride, (the same material that Galan exports from Argentina).

I am thinking this is a far easier process than it is to produce LiCO.

Presumably there is a market for it in China.

Lithium chloride having a lithia concentration over three times higher than spodumene concentrate would cut the number of shipments required by two thirds.

I would rather see this happen than to see the NAL lithium carbonate plant slowly disintegrate into a pile of junk.

“A process for the production of lithium chloride which comprises subjecting a mixture of about 4 to 6 parts by weight of spodumene, about 4 to 6 parts by weight of limestone, and about 2 to 4 parts by weight of calcium sulphate having a particle size of about minus 200 mesh to treatment at temperatures Of about 1000 to 1150 degrees C.”

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2533246A/en#

“The percent composition of lithium in lithium chloride is determined to be approximately 16.39%. This value represents the proportion of lithium's mass relative to the total molar mass of lithium chloride (LiCl). Therefore, the percent composition by mass of lithium in lithium chloride is approximately 16.39%.”19 Dec 2023