Integrated lithium aspirant Lepidico Ltd., Belmont, Australia, has completed resource estimates for lepidolite-rich surface stockpiles and tailings from former operations in Namibia, increasing contained lithium by 10%, Mining-journal.com reports.
“Inferred” resources of 570,000t grading 0.8% Li2O (plus caesium and rubidium) have been calculated, with a Rubicon tailings upgrade seeing “indicated” resources of 71,000t at 1% Li2O.
Lepidico is looking at the redevelopment of two mines within its 80%-owned Karibib project in Namibia and the design of a new flotation plant to produce a lepidolite concentrate for export to a chemical conversion facility it wants to build in Abu Dhabi.
Such a business could produce circa-5000tpa lithium hydroxide for 14 years, according to the company.
Lepidico has also said “strategic caesium and rubidium high value products” plus bulk by-products collectively give aggregate production on a total lithium-equivalent basis of more than 7000tpa.
Total pre-production capital has been put at US$139 million.
Talks with potential backers,
About Lepidico
Lepidico Ltd is an ASX-listed Company focused on exploration, development and production of lithium chemicals. Lepidico owns the technology to a metallurgical process that has successfully produced lithium carbonate from non-conventional sources, specifically lithiumrich mica minerals including lepidolite and zinnwaldite. The L-Max® Process has the potential to complement the lithium market by adding low-cost lithium carbonate supply from alternative sources. More recently Lepidico has added LOH-Max® to its technology base, which produces lithium hydroxide from lithium sulphate without by-product sodium sulphate. The Company has completed a Definitive Feasibility Study for a nominal 5,000 tonne per annum Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) capacity Phase 1 lithium chemical plant, targeting commercial production for 2023. The Project incorporate the Company’s proprietary L-Max® and LOH-Max® technologies into the chemical conversion plant design. Feed to the Phase 1 Plant is planned to be sourced from the Karibib Project in Namibia, 80% owned by Lepidico where a predominantly Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 11.24 Mt grading 0.43% Li2O, (including Measured Resources of 2.20 Mt @ 0.57% Li2O, Indicated Resources of 6.66 Mt @ 0.38% Li2O and Inferred Resources of 2.37 Mt @ 0.43%, at a 0.15% Li2O cutoff) is estimated. (ASX announcement of 30 January 2020). Ore Reserves total 6.72 Mt @ 0.46% Li2O, 2.26% rubidium, 2.02% potassium and 320ppm caesium (ASX announcement of 28 May 2020).
