Perth-based Lepidico has produced battery grade lithium carbonate using its proprietary L-Max process from tailings sourced from Galaxy Resources' Mt Cattlin spodumene operations in Australia.
L-Max is a metallurgical process that can produce lithium carbonate from non-conventional sources such as lithium-rich mica minerals including lepidolite and zinnwaldite.
A flotation concentrate was produced grading more than 4pc lithium oxide with lithium recoveries to concentrate of 96.6pc. Battery grade lithium carbonate grading 99.8pc was produced from the tests.
The test programme demonstrated that conventional flotation coupled with L-Max technology can be used to produce battery grade lithium carbonate from modest grade tailings source from spodumene operations, Lepidico managing director Joe Walsh said.
It implies that L-Max can materially enhance mineral resource potential and the value of mixed lithium mineral hard rock deposits that contain lithium-micas, he said.
