Bald Hill lithium mine achieves commercial production

Joint venture partners Perth-based Tawana Resources and Singapore-based Alliance Minerals Assets have reached steady state commercial production at the Bald Hill lithium-tantalum mine in Western Australia.

High grade lithium concentrate is being regularly produced from the project's stage one dense media separation circuit, with output of 18,999t between 14 March and 30 June, Tawana said in a statement. The lithium concentrate output target for 1 July-31 December is 60,000-75,000t.

The plant's nameplate capacity of 161 t/hour has been exceeded, with rates of up to 230 t/hour achieved. Further modifications are planned to increase nameplate capacity to 240 t/hr. The nameplate plant recovery rate of 65pc has been achieved.

The joint venture partners are considering the viability of a second dense media separation circuit, in addition to a fines circuit.

Tawana and Alliance Mineral Assets have a five-year lithium concentrate offtake agreement with Hong Kong-based Burwill Holdings and are planning to merge in the next three months with stock exchange listings in Singapore and Sydney. They also produce tantalum as a by-product, which is sold to different buyers.