Australian lithium developer Sayona Mining has started a pilot plant programme to treat sample concentrate from its Authier lithium project in Canada.
Engineering firm SGS Canada will run the test programme which aims to produce 6pc lithium oxide concentrate at recoveries of greater than 80pc.
The project in Quebec aims to further refine and confirm operating parameters for a processing plant to de-risk plant construction, commissioning and ramp-up to full production.
Sayona completed a feasibility study on the Authier project. It expects to start construction in the second half of 2018 with first lithium concentrate output in late 2109.
The pilot programme will provide data for equipment sizing and plant design as well as a finalised production flowsheet. It is also aimed at generating spodumene concentrate for downstream lithium carbonate testing and marketing.
"The company is focusing on rapidly progressing the project to capitalise on the strong projected price outlook for spodumene concentrate," chief executive Corey Nolan said.
Sayona expects Authier to produce an average of 96,000 t/yr of spodumene concentrate after recently increasing the ore reserve and optimising a pre-feasibility study.
The proven and probable ore reserve is 11.6mn t, grading 1.03pc lithium oxide for 120,098t of contained lithium metal. The mineral resource is 18.3mn t, grading 1.02pc lithium oxide for 186,953t of contained lithium metal.
Offtake and financing negotiations are expected to take place from the second quarter of this year.
Sayona has an agreement with Chinese battery manufacturer Huan Changyuan Lico Company to develop the Authier project.
