The Western Australian government has approved the mining proposal and mine closure plan for openpit mining at the Mt Ida lithium project, marking the final approval needed for the project to begin operating.
“With all statutory approvals for commencement of mining now received, it is accurate to say that Mt Ida is indeed shovel-ready,” said Delta Lithium MD James Croser.
The combined lithium and gold resources present a compelling mining project.
“The company is in an enviable position at Mt Ida to simultaneously progress studies on the lithium concentrate project; while also progressing discussion around deriving value from high-grade gold,” he said.
Delta, which is still busy with a feasibility study for Mt Ida, recently increased the project's inferred and indicated mineral resource from 12.7-million tonnes 14.6-million tonnes at 1.2% lithium oxide.
Besides the lithium at Mt Ida, the project also hosts 3.1-million tonnes at 4.1 g/t for 412 000 oz of gold.
The colocated gold resource has the potential to enhance and de-risk the development of the Mt Ida lithium project, offering an opportunity for cash flow from the sale or toll treatment of shallow gold ore.