Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT) has produced a marketable and on-specification battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate sample from the CV5 pegmatite, as part of the Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (formerly known as Corvette Project) in Québec, Canada.
The 307 grams sample was produced using spodumene concentrate from the CV5 pegmatite, via a testwork program which served as proof-of-concept that a high quality battery-grade lithium end-product can be produced.
Patriot Battery Metals, which has a market capitalisation of $424.52 million, says the results marks a de-risking milestone as the company advances CV5 through the stages of development.
The sample will now be used to further advance and strengthen Patriot Battery’s engagement with potential strategic partners, end-users, and original equipment manufacturers.
CEO Ken Brinsden says while the company is focused on advancing CV5 to production using a dense media separation-only flowsheet to produce spodumene concentrate, it is important to look beyond and from the viewpoint of the end-user.
“Not all spodumene concentrates are created equal and by demonstrating that the high-quality, low-iron spodumene concentrate produced from CV5 results in a marketable and non-specification battery-grade lithium hydroxide product, we are further validating and de-risking the project as we eventually look to capitalise on this high-value downstream product category,” Brinsden says.
A core sampling program has also recently been completed, which will provide additional representative material for the next phase of mineral processing testwork.
The company says this next phase of testwork will support an ongoing Feasibility Study on the CV5 pegmatite. It will also provide “significant” quantities of representative spodumene concentrate for any future downstream test programs.
The CV5 pegmatite forms part of the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project, which has a mineral resource of 80.1 million tonnes at 1.44% lithium oxide in the indicated category, and 62.5 million tonnes at 1.31% lithium oxide in the inferred category.
Patriot Battery Metals is a hard-rock lithium explorer focused on advancing its assets in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Patriot Battery Metals
