im-listed IronRidge Resources has conducted successful battery-grade lithium conversion trials on coarse spodumene concentrate samples taken from the Ewoyaa lithium project, in Ghana.
The results demonstrate the project’s ability to generate battery-grade lithium products from premium feedstock, IronRidge CEO Vincent Mascolo said in a statement on Tuesday.
Coarse spodumene concentrate containing 6.3% lithium oxide (Li2O) from preliminary beneficiation testing have been sent to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation for sighter conversion tests.
Greater than 99% conversion of alpha spodumene to acid soluble beta spodumene was achieved in the critical calcination stage.
Lithium carbonate at a grade of 99.92% lithium carbonate was produced, which exceeds most published specifications for battery-grade quality.
High-purity battery-grade lithium hydroxide containing 56.5% lithium hydroxide was also produced from the carbonate via the conventional hybrid route.
“These results are another significant milestone which underscore the commercial potential of the project, which also boasts exceptional logistics, adjacent multiple high-voltage power lines, sealed roads and lies within 110 km of the operating deep sea port of Takoradi, all within the pro-mining jurisdiction of Ghana,” enthused Mascolo.
“These results very clearly demonstrate that, due to the coarse size and low impurity content of the concentrate, the Ewoyaa lithium project is a world-class asset and is a premium feedstock for converters around the world,” commented IronRidge consulting metallurgist Noel O’Brien.
IronRidge is working towards releasing its maiden resource estimate for the project during the first quarter of this year and will continue with project studies and regional exploration programmes.
EDITED BY: CHANEL DE BRUYN
CREAMER MEDIA SENIOR DEPUTY EDITOR ONLINE
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