Lincoln Minerals (ASX:LML) is fast-tracking its battery anode ambitions after an independent review showed graphite from the company’s Kookaburra Project in South Australia is suitable for use as feedstock for the anodes in electric vehicle batteries.
The company now plans to begin a Prefeasibility Study (PFS) on the Kookaburra Graphite Project (KGP), assessing the potential for the production of 60,000 to 100,000 tonnes per annum of graphite concentrate.
It will be the first major study update since the Feasibility Study was completed in 2017. The new proposed annual production being investigated in the PFS is a 70-185% increase over the Feasibility Study.
This follows a review of metallurgical test work completed from 2013 to 2018 including batch tests, PFS metallurgical studies, pilot plant operations, and micronisation efforts.
The results from previous test work were key in determining an optimised process flowsheet.
According to Lincoln, those past results demonstrate the high quality of fine flake graphite products that can be produced from the KGP, with a particular focus on the suitability for use in the high growth global EV battery markets.
The anodes of EV batteries require around 50-100kg of graphite, which makes up nearly 100% of the anode and accounts for about 25-28% of the total EV battery. There is around 10-15 times more graphite than lithium in an EV battery.
CEO Jonathon Trewartha says the continued data reviews show that the project is more advanced than he expected when he first joined Lincoln seven months ago.
“The presence of substantial quantities of micronised test work and high quality product samples fast tracks our plans to advance the project to production,” he says.
“Previous pilot plant test work undertaken in China and completed in 2018 used samples from not only the Kookaburra Gully Deposit but also the Koppio and Kookaburra Gully Extended deposit, giving a high confidence that the results we already possess are representative.”
The two-phase pilot program, which was undertaken with Shandong Lianchuang Mining Design Co, achieved up to a 95.2% recovery with a concentrate grade of 94.6% total graphitic carbon (TGC).
Processing in Canada produced five target micronised grades, while batch tests confirmed production of high-grade graphite products up to 97% TGC without additional cleaning stages.
Initial batch tests demonstrated up to 98% recovery rates and 99.9% purity after purification using hydrofluoric acid.
“This enables us to complete our Prefeasibility Study (PFS) for KGP with no further test work required, underpinning our aim to significantly expand graphite concentrate production rates in an updated PFS Study on track for Q4 2024,” Trewartha says.
Lincoln has now appointed Stephen McEwen as project development manager to oversee the PFS, which is scheduled to be completed in Q4 2024.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Lincoln Minerals
