Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT) has identified a new standalone development pathway to produce sulphate of potash (SOP) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) from lake clays in Western Australia, complementing its Lake Hope High Purity Alumina Project.
Metallurgical testwork has shown high recoveries of sulphate (over 94%) and chlorine (over 98%), enabling SOP and HCl production without having to rely on evaporation ponds, which has been a hindrance to earlier SOP projects in Australia.
Australia currently imports all of its SOP and is facing growing demand for hydrochloric acid at the Eastern Goldfields in Western Australia.
The company has staked several lakes near Salmon Gums as potential feedstock sources. These tenements, part of an 80:20 joint venture with Playa One Limited, are strategically located near agricultural and mining markets.
Managing Director Mike Jones says that the new development pathways create an opportunity for the company to create value from Western Australia’s lake systems.
“While our main focus remains on HPA development, we now see a potential route to produce sulphate of potash and hydrochloric acid as primary products through a relatively straightforward processing method,” Jones says.
“Although still in the early stages, the breakthrough results, particularly for acid production, indicate this approach could be a practical alternative to traditional potash methods and help fill a noticeable supply gap for both fertiliser and industrial acid in Western Australia.
“We have secured all the available lakes containing the right materials in an area around Salmon Gums, a strategic location for a facility to supply potash to the farming regions of Western Australia and potentially a key source of hydrochloric acid for the mining industry, including clay-hosted rare earth element developers in the area.”
Testwork has demonstrated chlorine release during calcination, which can be captured and converted into hydrochloric acid, offering a potential local supply source for gold processing, chemical manufacturing, and rare earth projects.
Next steps include further metallurgical optimisation, refinement of SOP purification and crystallisation, chlorine capture testing, and engagement with fertiliser, chemical, and industrial groups to establish market partnerships.
A scoping study will also assess technical and commercial viability, including capital and operating costs, product specifications, and development scale.
Impact Minerals is focused on establishing itself as a key player in the high purity alumina industry, with a key focus on the Lake Hope Project in Western Australia.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: Impact Minerals
