PERTH (miningweekly.com) − Lithium miner Galaxy Resources has reported a 25% increase in production from its Mount Cattlin spodumene mine and processing facility, in Western Australia, for the month of July.

Spodumene concentrate production reached 8 916 t during July, up from the previous month.

The miner said that plant use was 16% higher month-on-month, at 79%, adding that the ramp-up of operations at Mount Cattlin continued to progress solidly. Mining operations on site also continued to provide adequate feedstock for the spodumene processing plant during the month.

The Mount Cattlin project was currently operating at around 70% to 80% of its design output capacity, and would be further optimised during the coming quarters.

Production at Mount Cattlin started in October last year. The mine hosts around 197 000 t of contained lithium oxide, with a measured and indicated resource of 13.8-million tons. The project would produce around 137 000 t/y of spodumene concentrate, and 56 000 lb/y of contained tantalum in concentrate, once fully operational.

Galaxy said that it expected to ship its third consignment of spodumene concentrate to China during September, with the cargo volume expected to be around 20 000 t.