Ann: GOULAMINA LITHIUM PROJECT DEFINITIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY, page-123

Correct:

“—Crimms is unproven at the scale proposed for lithium production by MLL—“

CRIMMS permanent high intensity magnetic separator is actually several kinds not one.

So Why does the management here not be specific about what magnetic separator they used?

I suspect MLL was offered the same kind of separator that CRIMM’s is experimenting with on Altura’s spodumene, on behalf (I suspect), Shan Shan, who are proposing a hydroxide plant in Changsha, vertically integrated with Altura’s SC feed as it appears.

So, my impression is MLL would need a partner in China who is building a plant dedicated to their 100-150 micron SC feed.

MLL management make the claim that CRIMM “...has specialist knowledge and experience in Lithium beneficiation, such as magnetic separation techniques and diverse equipment used in lithium ore beneficiation.” but CRIMM no where on their website, make that claim of “specialist knowledge and experience in lithium beneficiation” but they do appear to specialize in ferromagnetic separation.

In the DFS there is no mention of CRIMM, unlike late 2019 METS test CRIMM’s magnetic separator technology was a major trophy in the METS because apparently it could liberate iron particles more effectively than the WHIMS (wet high intensity magnetic separator), and it needed to because the company (to its credit) admitted it has fine grained spodumene. I could not see reference to Mohs hardness except a power rating for comminution suggesting its very hard possibly harder than Pilbara(?), but indications are iron species etc would be locked in with the Spodumene lattice hence the full hog to 150 micron grind size.

The company wants to make out that larger grind sizes are not cool because modern kiln circuits are now adapted to finer material, and that larger grind sizes are “historical”. I suppose Greenbushes is “historical.” in a market flooded with below GB benchmark Spodumene concentrate for batteries.

So is CRIMM still being engaged? The absence of a mention of Changsha or CRIMM, in my view suggests after Chris Evans left, something also happened with Changsha. Could be wrong, but the absence of a mention makes me wonder