As there's always questions popping up now and again regarding the Lemare spodumene project, thought it appropriate to have a separate thread where we can follow ongoing events regarding this asset.
It has been stated by management quite clearly that L-Max is total focus moving forward with the exception of this asset.
Having divested interest in all non L-Max related projects, management will continue to pursue Lemare spodumene deposit as it represents great value to the company moving forward, albeit being in stark contrast to L-Max plant feed material.
L-Max - What is it?
The L-Max® process allows the extraction and recovery of lithium (chemical symbol Li) from lithium bearing micas such as lepidolite and zinnwaldite. These Li-rich minerals have largely been overlooked until the advent of L-Max® as a source of lithium as no commercially viable process existed to recover this metal, which is essential for many new battery technologies.
Figure: Lepidolite (left) and Zinnwaldite (right)
As such, there is a tremendous opportunity for the Company to establish Li-rich micas as a recognised third major source of lithium (alongside brines and spodumene). At brownfields operations, Li-rich micas have typically reported to tailings. Such sources could lead to a low-cost and near-term entry point for the commercialisation of L-Max®. At greenfields sites, Li-rich mica pegmatites have typically been overlooked creating an exploration opportunity for the Company.
L-Max® is a hydrometallurgical process that involves the direct atmospheric leach of lithium micas, followed by impurity removal stages and the subsequent precipitation of lithium carbonate. This differs considerably from the processing of spodumene, which requires high temperature decrepitation and sulphate roasting prior to lithium recovery – a relatively expensive process. Lepidico is seeking to commercialise L-Max®, which is characterised by employing low-cost, readily available reagents, industry standard equipment and is expected to have lower energy requirements. In addition, L-Max® has the potential to also recover valuable by-products from the Li-rich micas including potassium sulphate, sodium silicate and caesium/rubidium formate. Production of such by-products would further increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of L-Max® as a metallurgical process.
Lepidico has already successfully completed a mini-plant trial utilising the L-Max® technology. The mini-plant was run continuously for 140 hours, processing a lepidolite concentrate to produce lithium carbonate with a purity >99.5%. In addition, recoveries of more than 94% were achieved from the leach liquor. Subsequent to this mini-plant trial, Lepidico has also produced various by-products from the leach liquor generated.
L-max Phase 1 plant - Lithium Carbonate production to commence 2019
Lemare project - What is it?
The Lemare Property is located in the James Bay region of Quebec, which is home to numerous large lithium deposits. Lemare comprises one block totaling 158 claims covering an area of 7,806.82 hectares and has a lateral extent of over 20 kilometers in a southwest-northeast direction.
What's the deal? (key dates highlighted)
The Lemare spodumene project is some 70 km2 in area and is secured by the Lemare Option Agreement between the Company (Critical Elements) and Platypus Minerals Ltd.
Under the terms of the Lemare Option Agreement, Lepidico Ltd is earning up to a 75% interest in the Lemare project.
To maintain its position, Lepidico Ltd has an initial requirement to spend C$800,000 on exploration by August 31, 2017 (extended from December 31, 2016 by agreement).
With completion of the Stage 2 drilling program Lepidico has met this expenditure requirement.
To complete the earn of an initial 50% interest in the project, Lepidico is to fund C$1.2M of exploration and delineate a JORC Code compliant Minerals Resource by August 31, 2018.
Lepidico can earn a further 25% interest by completing a feasibility study and an environmental study on Lemare by June 30, 2020 and by making a payment of C$2.5M (in cash or shares) to Critical Elements.
Additional terms include a 2% Net Smelter Royalty payable to Critical Elements – with rights for Lepidico to buy back 1% of the NSR for $2,000,000 – and a payment of $1,500,000 in cash or shares for delineation of a JORC compliant Mineral Resource in excess of 20.0Mt at a cut-off grade of 0.6% Li2O
Progress to date -
6 May 2016
Platypus Minerals Ltd (“Platypus” or the “Company”) advises that following completion of its due diligence over the Lemare lithium project in Quebec, Canada, Platypus has directed Lepidico to proceed with exercise of the Lemare Option.
3 August 2016
Platypus Minerals Ltd (“Platypus” or the “Company”) advises that preparations for field work at Lemare are progressing, with the granting of a permit to establish a field camp.
A drilling permit is expected imminently, with the arrival of a diamond drilling rig due by mid- August.
During site investigations for a suitable field camp, an additional six grab samples were collected from an outcropping portion of the Lemare spodumene pegmatite (Figures 2 and 3). Results confirm robust lithium grades at Lemare, with up to 3.34% Li2O recorded. The average across the six samples is 1.73% Li2O
12 September 2016
Platypus Minerals Ltd (“Platypus” or the “Company”) is pleased to advise that a diamond drill rig commenced drilling over the weekend at the Lemare Lithium Project.
The current 4,000 m drill program will evaluate the mineralogy, grade and dimensions of the Lemare spodumene pegmatite with a view to defining a JORC Code-compliant Mineral Resource estimate upon completion.
Stage 1 of the program will comprise mapping, prospecting, and approximately 2,000 m of diamond drilling (NQ core) across the known 200 m strike of the pegmatite and its immediate extensions.
Initial channel sampling from six trenches cut across this pegmatite in 2012 returned up to 12 m grading 1.96% Li2O and averaged 10.25 m grading 1.44% Li2O (Figures 3-5; Table 1), as reported to the market by the Company on 12 February 2016.
24 November 2016
High-grade lithium confirmed by diamond drilling at Lemare
Results include 21 m @ 2.65% Li2O, 41.5 m @ 1.71% Li2O and 23 m @ 1.61% Li2O
All lithium mineralisation contained within spodumene
Main pegmatite extended to 300 m length, and open to the northeast
New spodumene pegmatite identified to the SW, 600 m strike, up to 4.26% Li2O in rock chip samples
The Company’s first exploration program at Lemare comprised 16 diamond drill holes, totalling 1,788m of NQ core, drilled into the Lemare pegmatite along 8 lines spaced a nominal 50 m apart.
In conjunction, a program of regional rock chip sampling was undertaken along the projected extension of the pegmatite beyond the bounding lake to the southwest.
The drilling confirmed the presence of a high grade spodumene pegmatite that was initially identified by a series of channel samples. This pegmatite is seen to extend at least 300 m along strike and remains open to the NE and down dip. It is up to 20 m in true width and pinches and swells both along strike and down dip. The pegmatite is closed off to the SW where it approaches a lake.
Better drill results include: 41.5 m @ 1.71% Li2O, including 15 m @ 2.18% Li2O and 3 m @ 3.6% Li2O in hole LE-16-14; 21m @ 2.65% Li2O in hole LE-16-13; 18.85 m @ 1.35% Li2O, including 8.4 m @ 2.26 Li2O in hole LE-16-07; and 23 m @ 1.61% Li2O, including 10.5 m @ 2.51% Li2O in hole LE-16-0
Fairly consistent grades of 2% - 3% Li2O were recorded from intermittent pegmatite outcrops along a 600 m long strike (average of 10 samples is 2.3% Li2O). This represents a newly identified mineralised zone that appears highly prospective and is therefore an attractive future drilling target.
The total Lemare spodumene-prospective pegmatite strike length now exceeds 1.2 km.
16 February 2017
Lepidico Ltd (ASX:LPD) (“Lepidico” or “the Company”) is pleased to advise that a diamond drilling program has been agreed for the next phase of drilling at the Lemare Lithium Project, Quebec, Canada.
A drill program of up to 2,200 m will commence immediately a rig is sourced and mobilised to site. Drilling will target the 600 m of spodumene mineralised pegmatite discovered in late 2016 (as announced to ASX on 24 November 2016).
An average grade of 2.19% Li2O was returned from 11 samplesrecorded from intermittent pegmatite outcrops along the new zone (ranging from 0.16% Li2O to 4.26% Li2O.
The drill program has been designed by project owner Critical Elements Corporation (TSX-V:CRE).
Pegmatite outcrops that were flagged last season will be cleared of snow and shallow holes drilled to orientate subsequent deeper step out holes.
17 August 2017
Lepidico Ltd (ASX:LPD) (“Lepidico” or “Company”) is pleased to advise the results from the second stage of drilling at the Lemare spodumene project in Quebec, Canada.
The Stage 2 diamond drilling program has been completed along the 600 metre long SW Extension of the Lemare spodumene pegmatite identified in late 2016.
A total of 15 holes, for 1,527 m of NQ core, were drilled on nominal 50 m sections along the mapped extension of the spodumene- bearing pegmatite to the SW of a lake and the discovery zone drilling last year.
Multiple wide intercepts were returned from the SW Extension, confirming Lemare as a significant spodumene deposit, including: 33.7 m @ 0.94% Li2O, from 9.60 m, in hole LE-17-29 18.0 m @ 2.00% Li2O, from 6.80 m, in hole LE-17-30
These results build on the spodumene mineralisation identified by last year’s drilling at the Lemare discovery deposit, as reported on 24 November 2016, that included: 28.5 m @ 2.15% Li2O, from 5.50 m, in hole LE-16-13 24.0 m @ 1.87% Li2O, from 13.5 m, in hole LE-16-14 21.0 m @ 1.75% Li2O, from 38.8 m, in hole LE-16-03
Broad intervals of spodumene-bearing pegmatite are recorded in the eastern 250 m section of the SW Extension corridor, and remain open at depth.
Geological logs show spodumene content ranging from 5% up to 25%.
24 January 2018
The Company and the owner, Critical Elements Corporation Inc, are preparing exploration programs as part of the next phase of work at Lemare, which is to be completed by 31 August 2018.
All information above can be found on Lepidico and Critical Elements websites.
Full drill hole details of each campaign can be found in LPD company announcements by date.
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