https://investingnews.com/daily/res...hard-rock-lithium-supply-source-lct-deposits/
"Due to their simple metallurgy, the spodumene or lepidolite lithium ores found in LCT-type deposits can be rapidly moved from exploration to development and can be easily converted into important lithium concentrates used in an array of industrial applications, including batteries for electric vehicles and mobile electronics."
"Hard rock lithium has strategic advantages in dynamic lithium markets compared to brine deposits. Extracting lithium concentrate from brine waters involves evaporation in large ponds, which may take over a year or more. Hard rock lithium, on the other hand, is easier to explore, mine and process using low-cost mining methods.
Concentrated ores across a narrow surface expression make pegmatite dikes “very simple to map and mine,” said Graham. Greenbushes in Western Australia is a simple open-pit mining operation. The high-quality lithium ore, grading 1.2 percent lithium, is processed into a range of lithium concentrates onsite. These concentrates can be easily packaged and shipped over large distances to market."
"LCT pegmatites are by their nature small deposits — which makes large finds like Greenbushes (thought to contain almost 1 million tonnes of lithium) very valuable. According to Graham, most pegmatites need grades like Greenbushes — 1 percent lithium or better — to justify development. “Grade is still king,” said Graham. “You want coarse, well-defined and well-mineralized pegmatite with reasonable strike lengths. If the pegmatite is developed over a wider expression, that’s even better because it means more tonnes in situ and easier mining.” He noted that deposits that are farther from infrastructure — such as all-weather roads and grid power — will need to be higher grade and larger in size to be economically viable."
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