- Bulletin Resources (BNR) reveals some “excellent” metallurgical testwork results from its Ravensthorpe lithium project in WA
- The program aimed to investigate the potential to produce a saleable lithium concentrate from spodumene-bearing pegmatites at the project
- Results show a concentrate grade of more than six per cent lithium dioxide while a recovery of greater than 75 per cent can be produced from standard industry processing methods
- Chairman Paul Poli says the the outcome gives Bulletin the opportunity of having several options for a path forward should drilling be successful
- BNR shares are up 3.70 per cent and trading at 14 cents at market close
Bulletin Resources (BNR) has revealed some “excellent” lithium concentrate grades and recoveries from metallurgical testwork.
The program, undertaken by BHM Process Consultants, was designed to investigate the potential to generate saleable lithium concentrate from spodumene-bearing pegmatites at the Ravensthorpe lithium project in WA.
Samples were collected from the Eastern pegmatite trend and composited into a 50-kilogram bulk sample, resulting in a composite head grade of 1.4 per cent lithium dioxide, which is reportedly very similar to the head grade of nearby operations.
The testwork indicated a concentrate at higher than required grades of above six per cent lithium dioxide while a high recovery of greater than 75 per cent lithium dioxide can be produced from dense media separation (DMS) techniques.
Testwork also showed deleterious iron oxide material in the coarse concentrate is at a low level of 0.5 per cent and well below typical market limits of 1.5 to two per cent iron oxide.
Overall, Bulletin Resources said that based on BHM’s findings, pegmatites from the Ravensthorpe project can produce an “excellent” saleable high-grade spodumene lithium concentrate using conventional processing methods.
Bulletin Chairman Paul Poli said the testwork is a “key pillar” in developing the company’s Ravensthorpe lithium project.
“The testwork has given us high confidence that the pegmatites will produce a high-grade saleable product using a conventional plant. This gives us the opportunity of having several options for a path forward should drilling be successful,” he said.
Further processing is also expected to improve outcomes.
BNR shares were up 3.70 per cent and trading at 14 cents at market close.