Australia-based lithium developer Argosy Minerals has produced the first batch of lithium carbonate equivalent at the industrial-scale pilot plant at its Rincon lithium project in Argentina's Salta province.
Work is continuing to develop a scalable, cost-effective chemical process to produce consistent battery-grade lithium carbonate equivalent for various stages of the project, the company said.
"Once gas supply is available and process works have been completed, Argosy expects to be in a position to instigate steady state plant operations for delivery into future stage 1 sales arrangements," it said.
The company is nearing completion of a mineral resource declaration and is undertaking a preliminary economic assessment. Offtake talks are taking place with a major international industrial group.
The Rincon lithium brine project is situated in the so-called "lithium triangle" that covers parts of Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.
