The Conversation (0)
Mandrake Resources Limited (ASX: MAN) (Mandrake or the Company) advises that next- generation Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and Refining provider ElectraLith Pty Ltd (ElectraLith) has produced 99.9% pure battery grade Lithium Hydroxide directly from Mandrake’s 100%-owned flagship 93,755 acre (~379km2) Utah Lithium Project brines.
Highlights
- Rio Tinto-backed Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and Refining company ElectraLith has successfully produced 99.9% pure battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide from Mandrake’s 100%-owned Utah Lithium Project using it’s cutting-edge DLE-R process
- Requiring no water or chemicals, ElectraLith’s Direct Lithium Extraction and Refining (DLE-R) process has greatly enhanced the potential of the Utah Lithium Project
- The production of battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide direct from brine revolutionises DLE by skipping the conventional interim step of producing lithium carbonate using costly, carbon intensive converters
- Mandrake and ElectraLith progressing a Strategic Partnership Agreement to facilitate the construction of a DLE-R pilot facility at the Utah Lithium Project
Figure 1: DLE-R - Production of Lithium Hydroxide directly from Utah Lithium Project brine
ElectraLith's DLE and Refining (DLE-R) technology processed brines in parallel from both Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project and Rio Tinto’s globally significant Rincon lithium brine project in Argentina.
Spun out of Monash University and backed by Rio Tinto and IP Group Australia, ElectraLith’s DLE-R is emerging as one of the cleanest, fastest, most versatile and cost-efficient methods of extracting and refining lithium. It’s proprietary electro-membrane technology requires no water or chemicals and can run entirely on renewable power, making it ideal for the water and resource constrained Paradox Basin.
Mandrake sent ElectraLith brines from the Lisbon B-912 well - one of the lower lithium concentration bulk samples from sampling activities undertaken in December 2023. The Lisbon B-912 brines contained 65.6mg/L lithium whilst the Big Indian #1 well (bulk sample sent to DLE provider Electroflow – results expected shortly) brines contained lithium concentrations of 147mg/L. Please see Mandrake’s ASX release of 22 January 2024 and Table 1 attached for further details.
ElectraLith’s work represents the groundbreaking production of Lithium Hydroxide direct from Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project brines. It also confirms DLE-R’s ability to do so without consuming water or chemicals, greatly enhancing the potential of the Utah Lithium Project.
The ability of ElectraLith’s DLE-R technology to produce battery grade Lithium Hydroxide directly from brine revolutionises DLE by completely circumventing the conventional interim steps of lithium processing, being the production of lithium chloride and lithium carbonate, which often involves the use of costly, carbon intensive converters.
The relationship between ElectraLith and Mandrake is non-exclusive, enabling Mandrake to continue exploring and assessing other competing DLE technologies. To that end, Mandrake is currently awaiting test results from bulk brine samples sent to the Bill Gates-backed US- based DLE company Electroflow (see ASX release dated 22 December 2023).
Figure 2: James Allchurch (Mandrake), Dr SJ Oosthuizen (ElectraLith) and Charles MacGill (ElectraLith) at ElectraLith’s
Managing Director James Allchurch commented:
‘DLE technology is absolutely critical to the future of lithium and the broader global energy transition. Our research into this innovative technology has been comprehensive, quickly identifying ElectraLith as one of the leaders in the field. The ability for ElectraLith’s DLE-R to produce Lithium Hydroxide directly from brine using limited power, no water and no chemicals is revolutionary in the DLE space, putting Mandrake’s US-based brine asset in a commanding position.
I look forward to concluding a partnership agreement with ElectraLith which will facilitate the construction of a DLE-R facility at Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project.
Furthermore, the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Utalh Lithium Project is well advanced, and I look forward to updating the market when complete.’
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Mandrake 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.
Red Mountain Lithium Discovery Bolstered with More Outstanding Thick Intersections
Key Highlights
- Multiple lithium intersections reported in assay results for the next four holes, RMRC004-007, with intersections up to +80m thickness, including:
- RMRC004: 83.8m @ 1,230ppm Li from 16.8m.
- RMRC005: 80.8m @ 1,270ppm Li from 56.4m
- RMRC006: 62.5m @ 1,070ppm Li from 6.1m and 70.1m @ 1,090ppm Li from 89.9m
- RMRC007: 74.7m @ 1,160ppm Li from 18.3m
- Intersections sit mid-project within 4.6km of strike length drilled to date at Red Mountain.
- Assay results for the remaining four drill holes expected in late July.
Assay results from the second batch of samples include the following drill intersections:
- RMRC004 : 13.7m @ 1,070ppm Li / 0.57% Lithium Carbonate Equivalent1 (LCE) from surface
- 83.8m @ 1,230ppm Li / 0.65% LCE from 16.8m
- RMRC005 : 26.0m @ 656ppm Li / 0.35% LCE from 3.0m
- 80.8m @ 1,270ppm Li / 0.68% LCE from 56.4m to End of Hole
- RMRC006 : 62.5m @ 1,070ppm Li / 0.57% LCE from 6.1m
- 15.3m @ 896ppm Li / 0.48% LCE from 71.6m 70.1m @ 1,090ppm Li / 0.58% LCE from 89.9m
- RMRC007 : 74.7m @ 1,160ppm Li / 0.61% LCE from 18.3m
- 25.9m @ 1,580ppm Li / 0.84% LCE from 115.8m
This second batch of assays, from drill holes located centrally within the group drilled so far (Figure 1), demonstrate thicker intersections than those previously announced, with all four holes intersecting +70m zones grading over 1,000ppm lithium. These outstanding results indicate the scale and grade potential at Red Mountain, as it continues to emerge as a project of significance in North America. Assays for the final four holes from the campaign are expected to be received later this month, which, along with other results, will allow the Company to determine the next steps at this highly prospective Project.
Astute Chairman, Tony Leibowitz, said:
“Our confidence in the scale and significance of this discovery continues to increase with each successful drill-hole at Red Mountain. Assays from the latest four holes have exceeded expectations and returned some very thick, high-grade intercepts which have confirmed robust lithium mineralisation in the middle of the project, between intersections from the discovery holes.
“With final assay results expected for the remaining four holes shortly, data from all holes will then be integrated into an updated geological model for Red Mountain with a view to expediting the process to achieving a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate.”
Figure 1. Drill-hole locations and intersections, and gridded soil sample geochemistry over aerial image.
About Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE)
Unlike spodumene concentrate, which is a feedstock for a value-added battery product, Lithium Carbonate is a principal lithium-ion battery product, which may be used directly in battery production or converted to other battery products such as lithium hydroxide. The Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Lithium Carbonate China Index priced lithium carbonate product at US$13,710/t6 as of 12 June 2024.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Astute Metals NL, 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.
Exploration Program Underway at Corvette River Lithium, Gold, Copper & Silver Project in Quebec
The Project consists of several claim areas, including Felicie on the Corvette Lithium Trend which hosts Patriot Battery Metals’ world-class Corvette Lithium Project2 and the West Eade and East Eade claims on the parallel Corvette South Trend, approximately 12 km to the south. Both trends are on the prolific Lac Guyer greenstone belt in the tier-one global mining jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada (see Figure 1).
Phase 1 of the program will investigate and prioritise zones across the extensive claims areas for further work and follow up drilling. The program will include extensive geological mapping, excavator trenching and channel sampling, for multi-element assaying, using a team of geologists, support staff, excavators and an air support team. Field logistics are supported by helicopters, including heavy lift helicopters, to move excavators, required equipment and personnel. The program is being phased, given the limited access to heavy lift helicopters during this period. The program is sequential, initially focussed in the Felicie area (see Figure 1), to be followed by the East Eade and then the West Eade claim areas.
The primary objectives of the program are to investigate identified target locations through field mapping of structures and outcrops, extensive excavator trenching and channel sampling to finalise planning positions and the priority of follow-on drill targets in the following project locations:
- Felicie Project – Field map, trench and sample structures and outcrops associated with previous rock chip sampling that included grades of up to 4.16 g/t Au, 44.1 g/t Ag and 0.23% Cu3 from a zone of 180m strike-length open in all direction.
- East Eade – Extensive investigation of an approximately 300m wide complex fold-closure, which included previous assays of up to 29.7 g/t Au and 12 g/t Au3 See photographs of East Eade below.
- West Eade – Further investigate areas around historical sample sites with assays of up to 11.45g/t Au3 and more recent rock chip sampling results including 3.37 g/t Au over 3m3.
- Lithium Targets – Follow up on Lithium bearing pegmatite targets that have been previously reported, including CR1 (mapped over 1.6 km4) at Felicie and CS15 at West Eade (see Figure 1)
Figure 1: MLS’s Corvette River Project – Felicie, East Eade & West Eade Phase 1 Field Exploration sites, includingtrenching target locations for key gold, Silver & lithium targets outlined with geology and magnetics
Metals Australia CEO Paul Ferguson commented:
“It’s pleasing to be under way with phase 1 of our field exploration program at Corvette River. The commencement of this program is a result of a lot of great work by our team and our contractor, Magnor Exploration. We have developed a detailed and prioritised exploration program targeting lithium as well as gold, silver and copper and put in place a contract to allow this important work to be completed during the summer field season, when ground truthing is possible in Quebec. Importantly the program phasing recognises the challenges associated with accessing heavy lift helicopters during the peak summer period.
We are now on the ground with a dedicated team of geologists and field staff, including excavators. The team will be able to follow up on the targets, associated structures and outcrops that have been identified from previous sampling. This will allow accurate positioning of trenching and channel sampling. The outcomes of this work will result in a well-defined and prioritised list of drill targets – which will be the subject of phase 2 of the program.
This program will follow up on the highly prospective lithium pegmatite targets as well as high-grade gold and silver target zones we have communicated previously. I look forward to communicating the results of phase 1 when they are available.
We continue to aggressively progress all our high-quality projects on their pathway through exploration and, when results warrant, into development. Four of our projects are now pending government approval for their next phase of exploration, including Lac Carheil, which also has active prefeasibility study work underway. It’s been an incredibly active period of planning, permit applications and work-program contracting. We are now seeing the field exploration stages starting to emerge – with Corvette River now fully permitted for advanced exploration target testing.
We are only able to advance this work because we have a very supportive board, a dedicated and driven team and the financial capacity to fund the programs we have planned. Currently, there is no value ascribed to our projects by the market and we have a market capitalisation well below cash backing, which is highly unusual. Given the high-quality pipeline of projects we are progressing and the opportunities they represent, I expect the balance of 2024 and beyond to represent exciting times for the Company.”
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Metals Australia Ltd, 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.