Just looking at galaxy report and sal de vida planned processing significantly different strategy. Surely one is more economical than the other? Technical process development advanced during the quarter with the completion of hydrometallurgical test work. The outcome of this was the selection of an in-house developed and optimised flowsheet. The original base case flowsheet was greatly simplified with the removal of three process steps from the overall flowsheet and the de-coupling of onsite processing of primary lithium carbonate and purification processing. Completed Independent test work comprehensively validated the ability of the brine to produce battery grade lithium carbonate.Advantages of the optimised flowsheet includes improved recovery, lower capital and operating costs and improved consistency of final product quality due to the following factors: Simplified process, with multiple steps removedo Removal of potash as a by-product, allowing final brine concentration to be reduced to 1.2% Li (from 2.1%)o Pond sizing reduced and evaporation cycle time greatly acceleratedo Overall lithium recovery improved due to fewer process steps and lower losses across a smaller pond area Technical complexity of final battery grade step at high altitudes eliminated o Flowsheet decoupled between onsite operation and offsite purificationo The upgrade to battery grade will be undertaken at a separate offsite facility Reduction of brine volume treated and lime reagent requiredo Liming to occur after evaporation ponds (previously took place before) Controlled first carbonation allows impurity removal without major lithium losses
ORE Price at posting:
$3.54 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
