Argosy Minerals has success in Rincon lithium brine testworks

• Pilot testing finds Rincon lithium brine can be significantly further concentrated
• Testworks confirm stable performance under relevant operating conditions for potential commercial application
• Generation of critical engineering and operating data to support DFS design, equipment sizing and economic evaluation

Argosy Minerals (ASX:AGY) has obtained positive evaporation and concentration testworks conducted for the Rincon lithium project in Argentina.

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The testworks are part of the progressing of key engineering and feasibility works to complete the definitive feasibility study (DFS) for development of the 12,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) project.

As part of the flowsheet and technology selection process works, the company conducted pilot-scale evaporation and concentration testing utilising proprietary technology from an independent European technology provider, using Argosy’s Rincon concentrated lithium brine obtained from the solvent extraction (SX) testworks program.

The pilot testing program successfully demonstrated that a mechanical evaporation process could efficiently concentrate the post-SX Rincon brine from approximately 1.3wt% lithium to a target range of four to five wt percent lithium, thereby reducing solution volumes and potentially enhancing downstream lithium recovery performance.

MD, Jerko Zuvela, said the testworks indicated the Rincon brine can be concentrated by approximately four to six times under continuous operations, confirming stable performance under relevant operating conditions for potential commercial application.

“We are pleased to continue achieving successful testwork results that support our overall engineering and feasibility works program to complete the DFS,” Mr Zuvela said.

“These positive works and results are another significant milestone for completing all necessary requirements towards realising the development of our 12ktpa Rincon Lithium Project.

“The process testworks are supportive for defining the optimal path to reduce technology risk and successfully complete the DFS to a standard that provides surety to stakeholders that the Rincon lithium project can be constructed and operated profitably.”

The testworks also revealed that substantial quantities of water can be removed while retaining the lithium content within a much smaller solution volume, indicating that industrially, 75 to 83% of feed volume can be recovered as condensate water.

“Overall, the positive testworks program confirmed that mechanical evaporation is a viable option for concentrating Rincon brine. The results strengthen the DFS by reducing process risk, improving understanding of brine behaviour and supports evaluation of mechanical evaporation as a potential concentration solution downstream of SX unit operations.

“The DFS program requires each major unit operation within the process flowsheet to be validated through laboratory and/or pilot-scale testing.”

AGY opened at 4.1¢ with a mkt cap of $63.28M.

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