Venari Minerals (ASX:VMS) has returned battery-grade lithium carbonate from the Red Mountain Project in Nevada, US, producing 99.5% purity from first pass test work.
The company says the lithium carbonate demonstrates a low-impurity profile, with test work providing proof of concept that mineralisation sourced from the project can be processed into a “value-added” product.
Venari intends to expand its metallurgical test work programs to include further lithium carbonate production to reduce sodium and magnesium impurities, testing of alternative leaching methods, beneficiation to reduce acid consumption, and test work associated with potential recovery of epsomite and strontium byproducts.
CEO Matthew Healy says returning ‘high-purity’ lithium is a significant milestone for the project, providing “strong technical validation”.
“This ability to produce a value-added lithium product not only differentiates Venari from the majority of ASX-listed lithium explorers, but also opens the door to engaging with lithium chemical and cathode manufacturers — both in the US and its trading partners — with a view to easing US lithium import reliance for its battery mineral supply chains,” Healy says.
“Given the growing strategic focus on securing domestic supply chains for critical minerals, this is a major development for Venari and the Red Mountain Project.
“With the lithium product box now ‘ticked’ and proof of concept established, the company will now expand its metallurgical test work programs.”
The company has completed 32 drill holes at the project across 6,015m in four different drilling campaigns.
Venari says each campaign has been “highly successful” through the intersection of ‘strong’ lithium mineralisation in almost every hole.
Red Mountain has a maiden resource estimate of 500 million tonnes @ 1,139 parts per million lithium for 3.03 million tonnes containing lithium carbonate equivalent.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Venari Minerals
