***shawstockbroking report***
Admiralty Resources announces chemistry report[/B] 5/01/05 By: Alex Lu
Admiralty Resources NL (ADY) announced today the results contained in the phase chemistry study by Hazen Research Inc. of 220 litres of Rincon Salar brine. Hazen, a US minerals research group, commenced their simulated solar evaporation study in May 2004 to report on the economic minerals present and production options.
Over a period of 4 months they evaporated the sample 220 litres to 9 litres, effecting a concentration ratio of 18 which is the level required to obtain economic yields of lithium after magnesium and sulphate is removed.
Recovery of Lithium by precipitation as Li2CO3 (Lithium Carbonate) was demonstrated yielding a product containing over 99.6% pure Li2CO3.
It was noted that the brine had high concentrations of magnesium, and that production of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) may be possible as a by-product.
They said the Rubidium level was 0.021%, Caesium 0.007% and bromine 34 mg/ltr.
Hazen advised there are no known producers of bromine in South America.
They recommended further test work to evaluate the removal of boron from the concentrated brine by both crystallisation and solvent extraction, if boron free Li2CO3 product is desired (for aluminium smelter use).
Admiralty said that further work will be done to estimate the extent of lithium recovery obtainable using the Li2SO4 (lithium sulphate) precipitation.
