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Battery and critical metals explorer and developer Pan Asia Metals Limited (ASX: PAM) (‘PAM’ or ‘the Company’) is pleased to report that it has received the results from sulphate roast and lithium extraction on samples of lepidolite concentrates from the Reung Kiet Lithium Prospect.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Lepidolite concentrates derived from fresh and weathered mineralisation subjected to sulphate roasting and water leaching testwork results received.
- Excellent recoveries achieved, ranging up to 88% lithium (Li) extraction.
- Ten tests undertaken on concentrates derived from fresh mineralisation (5) and oxidised mineralisation (5).
- Fresh concentrate tests yielded slightly better lithium extraction compared to oxidized concentrates.
- Further optimisation testwork is underway.
- Further work to also test concentrates derived from optically sorted ore to be undertaken.
Pan Asia Metals Managing Director Paul Lock said: “We are very pleased with these results, particularly so as we achieved lithium recoveries of up to 88% in the first round of our roasting and leaching testwork, and greater than 80% with lower reagent use. With additional testwork we are confident of achieving better results, we are aiming for recoveries in the mid to high ‘80s and plan to achieve this through further work on roast reagent ratios, roast time and temperature and the effect of agglomerating the roast feed, as well as using a concentrate derived from sorted ore.”
Two samples of lepidolite concentrate, weighing approximately 1kg each, were delivered to ALS Metallurgy in Perth in late December, 2022. These two concentrate samples were generated from the testwork program performed by BGRIMM Technology Group (BGRIMM) during 2022.
Testwork method
The fresh (Fr) and oxide (Ox) samples were milled to 80% passing 125 microns (0.125mm). These samples were then split into 5 x 100 gram samples. Each 100g sample was mixed with three roast reagents (limestone, gypsum and sodium sulphate) at quantities shown in Table 1. Water was added to achieve a moisture content of 20%.
Table 1. Test reagent conditions
The roast feed samples were then roasted in a kiln at 900°C for 1hr with small sub- samples then taken for XRD analysis. The remaining roast product samples were leached in de-ionised (DI) water (20% solids) at 60°C for 1 hour. At the end of the leach period, the slurry was filtered. The filtrate was assayed. The residue was re-pulped with DI water (20% solids) and washed (re-leached) at 60°C for 1 hour and the filtration step repeated. The re-pulp procedure was repeated. The final residue was assayed.
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