Resumen de Lithium Australia "revolutionises" lithium production
Industrial Minerals
Lastly, the process also makes lithium ores like mica and clays much more attractive. Currently, the estimated cost per lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) tonne is anywhere from $2,000 at Orocobre's Agentinian brine operations, to around $4,500 at Ganfeng Lithium's China operations. Lithium Australia is targeting the production of lithium carbonate from mica with its Sileach process at less than $2,000/tonne.
Last year Lithium Australia was known as Cobre Montana, and was under the spotlight for having licensed "L-max" technologies, a process for extracting lithium from lithium-bearing micas. The L-max process is owned and licensed out by Lepidico, who received ownership of the technology in exchange for shares from Li-Technology Pty Ltd (owned by Potash West and Strategic Metallurgy) last year. Lepidico, to be acquired by Platypus Minerals in 2016, is seeking to unlock the potential value of overlooked lithium deposits in conjunction with Lithium Australia, Crusader, Focus Minerals Ltd (FML), and European Metal Holdings (EMH) in various capacities. Lithium Australia and Lepidico are linked directly and also indirectly through activities with FML. Managing director Adrian Griffin told IM that Lithium Australia holds three L-max licenses, one exclusive license in Western Australia, one in the Cinovec region and another in an undisclosed location. It should be mentioned however, that on 31 March, Lithium Australia pulled out of its non-binding MoU with EMH, operating in the Cinovec region.
The 100%-owned Lithium Australia Sileach process allows the company the opportunity to grow independently and take charge of the lithium extraction and commercialisation process. On 15 March, Lithium Australia won an Australian Federal Government grant, supporting the company in commercialising its process. The grant is an Innovations Connections Grant under the Entrepeneur's Programme run by the Department of Industry and Science. Under the terms of the grant, Lithium Australia will partner with ANSTO Minerals, a division of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. The grant is initially focused on the application of Sileach on mica lithium recovery.
