Lepidico ramps up lithium pilot plant toward first products

According to Mining News Pro - The company is targeting to achieve a continuous operation of 15 kilograms of concentrate feed every hour within two weeks’ time.

Lepidico started wet commissioning of the final pieces of mechanical equipment on June 19 when its generator power came online.

Feed to the leach filter remains on schedule for the first production of amorphous silica and leach liquor reporting to the L-Max impurity removal circuit.

L-max is designed to complement the lithium market by adding low-cost lithium carbonate supply from alternative sources.

The final lithium carbonate process stage will come on stream, with sulphate of potash fertiliser production scheduled to commence in July.

Lepidico uses a metallurgical process that produces lithium carbonate from non-conventional sources, specifically lithium-rich mica minerals.

The company is conducting a feasibility study for a 5000 tonne a year phase one lithium chemical plant, targeting commercial production for 2021.

Lepidico’s exploration assets include a farm-in agreement with Venus Metals over the lithium mineral rights at the Youanmi lithium project in Western Australia.