Aim-listed Andrada Mining has produced high-grade lithium spodumene concentrate from mineralised pegmatite material sourced from the Lithium Ridge licence area –  a fully permitted mining licence located about 35 km southeast of the town of Uis and Andrada’s operating Uis mine in Namibia.

High-grade spodumene concentrate, at a grade of 6.8% lithium oxide (75% spodumene), has been produced from two Lithium Ridge exploration samples through laboratory-scale flotation.

The two samples are composites of drill hole chips, each sourced from a different pegmatite body.

The flotation test work achieved a lithium oxide recovery of 76% (80% spodumene recovery).

Further exploration drilling is planned for metallurgical test work and mineralogical characterisation to investigate the extent of spodumene mineralisation in the Lithium Ridge licence area.

“These results confirm recoverable spodumene within the pegmatites of the Lithium Ridge licence area. The testwork produced battery-grade spodumene concentrate at very attractive lithium recoveries.

“This follows the conclusion of a first phase of exploration drilling on Lithium Ridge, which yielded exceptional results as announced on September 6. Several notable drilling intersections of up to 2.13% lithium oxide were reported, and the drilling demonstrated lithium mineralisation along a 6 km strike,” Andrada CEO Anthony Viljoen says.

He adds that the lithium mineralisation in the pegmatites of Lithium Ridge varies from spodumene-dominant to petalite-dominant.

In the area of the licence where the composite samples were sourced, the mineral abundance map shows a high proportion of spodumene and very little petalite.

However, southwest of the licence area, displays a high grade of petalite with minor spodumene mineralisation. The southwest area is the source of ore for the current production of ceramic-grade petalite concentrate for Andrada’s lithium pilot plant, Viljoen outlines.

“Therefore, based on these results, we will proceed with the next phase of exploration drilling, metallurgical test work and mineralogical characterisation. This will increase geological and metallurgical confidence as well as establish a maiden mineral resource estimate over Lithium Ridge.

“We are encouraged by the progress towards our strategy of building a large-scale lithium production base,” he says.