Emerging multi-commodity exploration company Critical Resources (ASX:CRR) has produced the first concentrate from a testwork program at the Mavis Lake Lithium Project in Canada.
The company says technical service provider SGS Canada was commissioned to conduct basic heavy liquid separation (HLS) and magnetic separation testwork programs. This testwork was designed to determine the amenability of Mavis Lake spodumene for dense media separation (DMS) processing.
In designing the sample suite used for the testwork program, Critical Resources reports that focus was placed on representing the known Mavis Lake mineralised zone as accurately as possible. Some 50 quarter and a half core samples from 7 drillholes were selected to provide a wide range of spatial locations, lithia grades, lithologies, spodumene intersection depths, and also account for typical mining dilution.
These samples were delivered to SGS and compiled to create 2 composites, being a representative grade composite which assayed 1.2% lithium oxide (Li2O), and a ‘high-grade’ composite that assayed 1.6% Li2O.
Critical Resources says it received confirmation from SGS that the first series of testwork has been completed on the ‘high-grade’ composite, with testwork on the representative grade composite expected to begin shortly. Once this work has been completed, the company says the final products will be assayed to determine concentrate grade, impurity profile, as well as the recovery and yield estimates.
“Critical resources has firmly taken a step forward with its development plans for Mavis Lake”
Commenting on the testwork, Critical Resources Managing Director Alex Cheeseman says: “Critical resources has firmly taken a step forward with its development plans for Mavis Lake. The outcomes of the metallurgical testwork will directly support a scoping study and significantly assist us with planning our pathway to production.
Whilst the full results from the testwork will not be known until the program is completed, initial indications are that the Mavis Lake spodumene is amenable to beneficiation via DMS processing.
With a major drill campaign underway, our knowledge of the mineralisation and the characteristics of the Mavis Lake Main Zone continue to grow, setting the foundations for the next phase in this exciting project.”
Critical Resources reports the current testwork program will continue through to mid-February, with final results expected to be made available to the company towards the end of Q1 2023.
Furthermore, the company says the testwork program is a key step towards initiating scoping study work for the Mavis Lake project, with further updates on the next phase of development expected in the coming weeks.
Critical Resources is an emerging critical minerals company focused on its flagship Mavis Lake Lithium project in Ontario, Canada, as well as its ‘high-quality’ base metals projects in Australia and Oman.
The company’s portfolio includes the Graphic Lake, Whiteloon Lake, and Plaid projects in Ontario, Canada, the Halls Peak Base Metals Project in New South Wales, as well as the Sohar Copper Project in northern Oman.
Images: Critical Resources Ltd