PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Lithium developer Altura Mining has increased the mineral resource estimate at its Pilgangoora lithium project, ahead of commissioning the plant early next year.
The company on Tuesday reported that the mineral resource was estimated at 44-million tonnes, grading 1% lithium oxide for 441 000 t of contained lithium oxide.
This compares with the previous estimate of 40.3-million tonnes, at 1.04% lithium oxide.
Altura told shareholders that the upgraded resource included 8.5-million tonnes in the measured category, and the remaining 35.5-million tonnes in the indicated category.
Meanwhile, the ore reserve estimate has also increased by 3.7-million tonnes to 34.2-million tonnes, at 1.04% lithium oxide for 357 000 t of contained lithium oxide. The ore reserve estimate includes 8.1-million tonnes in the proven category, and a further 26.1-million tonnes in the probable category.
“While the increase is modest by total number, it is extremely significant given the inclusion of proved and measured tones, and how that strengthens our understanding of the geology of the deposit, particularly over the first five years of the operation,” said Altura MD James Brown.
“As we head into commissioning of the plant early next year, the risk around grade control have been significantly reduced and will ensure we are getting the right ore into the plant.
“We are also now armed with more valuable information as we continue to rapidly progress a Stage 2 expansion study aimed at increasing production to 450 000 t/y of spodumene concentrate, from the start-up capacity of 220 000 t/y.”