PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Reed Resources has increased the total mineral resource for its Mount Marion lithium project, in Western Australia, by 18%.

The miner said on Thursday that the project now contained a total lithium oxide resource of 146 000 t.

“This upgrade in the resource further highlights that Mount Marion is a formidable world-class lithium deposit,” said Reed Resources CEO Chris Reed.

Last month, Reed Resources announced that it would mine the Mount Marion project, with lithium production scheduled to start in the March quarter of 2011.

The operation would initially produce around 200 000 t/y of spodumene concentrate, grading a nominal 6,5% lithium oxide, processed from 1,2-million tons of feed material.

Reed reported that the assessment of the mining proposal and works approval from the Departments of Minerals and Petroleum, as well as Environment and Conservation has now started.

Approval has been granted to clear 180 ha of land, and this will start once the mining proposal has been approved.

The Mount Marion project is jointly held by Reed Resources and Mineral Resources.

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