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- Lithium Australia (LIT) is ready to kickstart drilling at the Medcalf prospect
- The company aims to use its extraction process to retrieve lithium minerals from spodumene, which the mine producers
- Before it begins drilling, LIT will need approval from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, among others
- After receiving these approvals, the drilling program will be completed during the second quarter of 2020
- On market close, Lithium Australia is down 8.11 per cent and is trading at 3.4¢ apiece
Lithium Australia (LIT) is ready to kickstart drilling at the Medcalf prospect.
The company’s raw materials business aims to create a quality lithium resource base that will provide feed options for a downstream processing facility that could use the LieNA process.
LIT’s LieNA Process
LIT has been working with ANSTO Minerals to solve the fine-spodumene dilemma and provide less energy-intensive alternative process, which is when it created LieNA.
LieNA represents an innovative and potentially more efficient treatment to extract lithium from spodumene.
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral that is typically found in lithium-rich pegmatites.
It is considering sourcing lithium minerals from mine-waste streams such as historical dumps and tailings from current mining operations, however, primary supply opportunities, include the Medcalf prospect, are being evaluated.
“In addition to considering sourcing lithium minerals from third-party mine-waste streams, the Medcalf Project provides a potential internal source of spodumene feed for the company’s experimental LieNA lithium extraction business,” Managing Director Adrian Griffin said.
Medcalf Project
The Medcalf Project is located near Lake Johnston in Western Australia. Previously, the company announced it had identified strong mineralised lithium-bearing pegmatite swarms within Medcalf. The dominant lithium mineral is spodumene.
LIT also found an exploration target for the project, which is based upon the results of geological mapping and the rock-chip geochemistry of the outcropping mineralised pegmatites.
The majority of the Medcalf spodumene-bearing pegmatites investigated so far have formed a swarm centred upon the Bontempelli Hill.
The pegmatite swarm includes at least 20 individual dykes (rocks formed in rocks), ranging from about 20 metres to 120 metres in length and 1 to 5 metres thick in outcrop.
Drilling to test the Medcalf spodumene is also planned. Prior to drilling, LIT needs approval from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for a program of work. It will also need to complete a botanical study.
After receiving these approvals, the drilling program will be completed during the second quarter of 2020. The drilling will include 12 reverse circulation drill holes for 2,500 metres.
“The Medcalf Project’s development timeline is a good example of how the company applies a methodical, disciplined and cost-effective approach to exploration so that any discovery occurs in a low-cost environment, Adrian said.
“Our ultimate aim is to participate in Western Australia’s energy security strategy, from mineral processing to batteries, and recycling of energy metal,” he added.
On market close, Lithium Australia is down 8.11 per cent and is trading at 3.4¢ apiece.
