The Conversation (0)
Anson Resources Limited (ASX: ASN) (Anson or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has been granted a small source emissions exemption by the State of Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (DAQ) for its Paradox Lithium Project in south-eastern Utah, USA.
Highlights:
- Anson has received approval from the State of Utah for a small source air emission exemption for its proposed DLE processing plant at the Paradox Lithium Project.
- This is a key project approval which means the Paradox Project will not require any additional air quality permits from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- The emissions exemption is expected to have a positive impact on the Project’s proposed development timeline.
- The emissions exemption approval is consistent with Anson's aim of developing a sustainable lithium producing operation at Paradox and minimising environmental impact.
- Applications for other state government approvals have been lodged and expected to be granted in the coming months.
The emissions exemption is a key requisite approval in the proposed development pathway for the Paradox Project and Anson’s plans to develop the Project into a substantial lithium producing operation.
Securing a small source emissions exemption from DAQ means that the Paradox Project will not be subject to Federal government Environmental Protection Agency supervision or oversight. Anson is of the view that this will likely have a positive impact on the proposed timeline to production at Paradox, as the Utah state government process and timeline is comparatively shorter than the federal government approval process.
The emissions exemption approval is testament to Anson’s commitment to strong ESG principles at the Paradox Project, and is consistent with its aim of developing a sustainable project and minimising environmental impact.
The criteria for qualifying for a small source emissions exemption are outlined below:
- Emit less than 5 tonnes per year of each of sulphur dioxide (SO2), cobalt (Co), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM10) and volatile organic compounds (VOC);
- Emit less than 500 pounds per year of any single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) and no more than 2,000 pounds per year for any combination of HAPs; and
- Emit less 500 pounds per year of any other air pollutants.
Anson’s estimate of emissions from the proposed plant at the Paradox Lithium Project were determined by a review of the equipment and utilities specified in the Project’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) (ASX Announcement 8 September 2022).
Figure 1: A model of the proposed SunResin direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant for the Paradox Project.
Background and Commentary
The issuance of the air quality emissions exemption for the Paradox Project follows a detailed review of the Project by DAQ. This permit approval is a requirement for full-scale processing to begin at the Project. During construction of the proposed direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant at Paradox, a temporary permit will be required to cover the continuous building and erection of the site.
The Paradox Lithium Project will consist of; production wells to extract supersaturated lithium brines, a direct lithium extraction processing plant (Figure 1) and the disposal of spent brine back underground.
Artesian flow within the Project area indicates that the lithium brine will flow to the surface without the need for mechanised extraction pumps, and that the brine is still under pressure on reaching the surface and continues flowing to the processing plant without the need for further pumping.
The proposed route to the processing plant has a 1,000-foot drop creating the potential for hydropower generation to provide the electricity for the normal operations of the plant. An engineering study was conducted by the Worley Group, outside of the DFS (ASX Announcement 21 February 2023). Hydropower may be created in two locations:
- Utilising the hydraulic power of brine flowing from the extraction wells; and
- Utilising the energy generated by brine being transported to the production location - from top- to-bottom of a canyon (330m (1,000 feet)) to the processing plan.
Several other applications that require state government approval have been lodged and it is expected that they will be granted during the coming months to conincide with the completion of the Front End Engineering & Design study (FEED) and will be used as part of the data base of information to be presented when raising finance for the construction of the project.
Anson Resources executive chairman and CEO, Bruce Richardson commented,
“Anson is working through the approval process on the pathway towards production at the Paradox Project. The emission exception is an extremely significant approval, as securing a small source emissions exemption at state level from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality means that the Company will not be required to seek any further air quality permits from the Federal EPA. Anson has designed the Paradox Project to extract, transport, process and dispose of lithium bearing brine on State or private areas. This will likely have a positive impact on the proposed timeline to production, as the government of Utah is supportive of the project and its approval timeline is expected to be comparatively shorter than Federal government approval. Government approval timelines are difficult to estimate, but Anson considers that it is approximately 50% of the way through the approvals process at Paradox, with several other requisite government approvals being concurrently progressed.”
This article includes content from Anson Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
ASN:AU
Anson Resources: Developing a Near-Term Clean Energy Project in Utah
Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) focuses on the resources necessary to meet the energy demands of the future. The company’s flagship project, the Paradox Lithium Project, has the potential to become a world-class lithium producer and is located near Tesla’s massively productive gigafactory in the United States. Additional projects target nickel, copper, and uranium.
The company's flagship Paradox Project is located in Utah, a mining-friendly and politically stable jurisdiction. The asset holds significant lithium brine deposits, and the company has identified an extraction method that has delivered an extraction rate of 91.5 percent. This technique calls for passing the lithium through the resin, which captures the resin, and can then be separated from the resin with water. From that state, it can be processed into lithium carbonate. The company is currently undertaking a major JORC resource expansion drilling program, the results of which will feed into a Detailed Feasibility Study being carried out by global engineering firm, Worley.
Company Highlights
- Anson Resources is focused on developing its flagship project, the Paradox Lithium Project, into a significant lithium producing operation.
- The company is currently undertaking a major JORC Resource expansion program at Paradox, which will form part of a Detailed Feasibility Study which is being undertaken by leading global engineering consultants, Worley.
- The Paradox Project contains multiple lithium brine targets, and the company has identified an extraction method that produces an impressive return rate of 91.5 percent. Also, the project’s Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) method is expected to deliver significant ESG benefits
- In addition, the project’s brine also contains bromine, creating a valuable second potential revenue stream for the asset.
- Anson Resources’ other projects target nickel, copper, vanadium and uranium. The company aims to supply energy markets with the mineral resources necessary to power the future.
- The company has an experienced management team with a mix of technical, corporate and commercial skills driving the project towards its ambitious goals.
This Anson Resources company profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*
High grade Massive Sulphide Intercepts Confirmed at Oval
HIGHLIGHTS:
- OVD027 confirms the continution of high grade massive sulphide from OVD0211 with an intercept of 6.1 metres of 4.16% Cu, 3.51% Ni, 0.G3g/t E3, and 0.13% Co from G8.2 metres encountered between broader high grade zones of:
- A dense disseminated intercept - 26.2 metres of 0.44% Cu, 0.52% Ni, 0.12g/t E3, and 0.03% Co from 72.0 metres and
- A net textured intercept - 15.3 metres of 1.15% Cu, 0.79% Ni, 0.35g/t E3, and 0.04% Co from 104.3 metres;
- A high grade broad intersection is confirmed at the central part of the Oval area by OVD026. It includes a massive sulphide intercept in hole OVD026 of 1.8 metres of 3.21% Cu, 3.32% Ni, 0.6Gg/t E3, and 0.14% Co from 105.0 metres within broader mineralisation of:
- 19.8 metres of 1.23% Cu, 0.98% Ni, 0.36g/t E3, and 0.05% Co from 91.2 metres.
OVD026 is located 100 metres northwest of the previously announced 8.8 metres of massive sulphide identified in drillhole OVD021.
On completion of the Phase 2 exploration work and receipt of all assays, Managing Director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren, commented:“The 2024 Phase 1 and 2 drilling and exploration programs have confirmed the broad presence of high-grade mineralisation in the Oval gabbroic intrusion. The grades intercepted in some of the drillholes are exceptional and may be indicative of broader potential over a larger area, given Oval is a greenfields discovery.
The 2025 exploration program will focus on obtaining information on the size/metal content potential of the Oval Cu-Ni-PGE mineral system as well as targeting the possible deeper magmatic sources at Oval. Broader exploration is also planned at potential extensions of Oval and nearby look-a-like prospects. We look forward to updating shareholders on progress, with drilling expected to commence in around 8 weeks”.
Summary of Phase 2 exploration drilling at Oval Cu-Ni-PGE project
The Company’s recent drilling work has predominantly focused on finding high-grade mineralisation in the olivine-amphibole gabbro at the Oval project. The multiple intercepts of massive sulphide mineralisation with different ratios of metal contents throughout the Oval gabbroic intrusion is highly encouraging for the presence of one or more deeper sources of high grade mineralisation in the opinion of ABM.
Figure 1. Plan view of drillhole locations on high resolution magnetics map (RTP)
Drillhole OVD02c
Drillhole OVD026 was designed to test the Down-Hole Electromagnetic (DHEM) conductor plate identified as OVD007_L2_B (reinterpretation of OVD007_L2_A2 by Southern Geoscience Consultants), which exhibits a conductance of 1,000 siemens. The drilling intersected a total of 1G.8 metres of mineralisation with 1.23% Cu, 0.G8% Ni, 0.36g/t E3, and 0.05% Co from G1.2 metres including;
- 4.8 metres of @ 0.45% Cu, 0.43% of Ni, 0.14g/t E3, and 0.02% Co of dense disseminated mineralised gabbro from 91.2 metres,
- 6.6 metres of @ 1.56% Cu, 0.G0% Ni, 0.50g/t E3, and 0.04% Co of net textured mineralisation from G6.0 metres,
- 2.4 metres of @ 1.52% Cu, 1.3G% Ni, 0.43g/t E3, and 0.07% Co of semi massive sulphide mineralisation from 102.6 metres,
- 1.8 metres of @ 3.21% Cu, 3.32% Ni, 0.6Gg/t E3, and 0.14% Co of massive sulphide mineralisation from 105.0 metres, and
- 4.2 metres of @ 0.57% Cu, 0.45% of Ni, 0.21g/t E3, and 0.02% Co of dense disseminated mineralised gabbro from 106.9 metres (Table 1 provides a detailed breakdown of mineralisation intervals).
OVD026 is located in the Oval area, which is approximately 100 metres northwest of the previous intersection identified in drillhole OVD0213. This intercept may represent an extension of the known massive sulphide mineralisation in the Oval area and highlights the potential for further expansion of massive sulphide zones within the broader prospect area (Figures 1 and 3).
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Asian Battery Metals PLC, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
