JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – China-based lithium carbonate producer Shandong Ruifu Lithium has produced a high-quality, low-impurity and battery-grade lithium carbonate using spodumene concentrate from Aim-listed Kodal Minerals’ Bougouni project, in southern Mali.
The chemical analysis of the final lithium carbonate product shows low levels of impurities, supporting its positioning as a premium product compared with many other products in the market.
Earlier test work had demonstrated the ability to produce spodumene concentrates ranging between 5.5% and 6.7% lithium oxide from Bougouni samples through flotation treatment of reverse circulation drill chips.
“The test work completed previously had demonstrated good metallurgical recoveries producing a high-grade spodumene concentrate, and these test results now confirm that this spodumene can be converted to a final lithium carbonate product that will be a premium product compared with many others in the market,” Kodal CEO Bernard Aylward said in a statement on Monday.
He added that Kodal was maintaining a busy exploration and definition programme at Bougouni.
The programme includes the extraction of a 5 000 t bulk sample to be shipped to China for further testing and review of potential plant design parameters.
“Our exploration drilling and definition work is scheduled to begin as soon as possible after the rainy season, with a drill rig contracted to undertake a large-scale programme testing our advanced prospects, as well as several high-priority new prospects.”