Anson's lithium brines may be easier than process than first thought

Anson’s plan to use direct lithium extraction technology to process brines from its Paradox project has received a healthy boost following successful test work.

The test work confirmed that the resin used in DLE partner Sunresin’s process is able to selectively adsorb lithium over other elements such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium from the supersaturated Mississippian brines sourced from the Long Canyon Unit 2 and Cane Creek 32-1 wells.

Importantly for Anson Resources (ASX:ASN), the latest test work produced similar results to the previous program on Clastic 31 brines.

The Paradox project contains two distinct sources of lithium brines, the Paradox formation, about 2km below surface, which includes multiple lithium rich ‘clastic’ zones, and the underexplored ‘Mississipian/Leadville’ formation about 450m below Paradox – a massive, supersaturated brine aquifer with high grades of lithium.

Having the ability to successfully extract lithium from the two sources using the same DLE process simplifies the company’s development plans and provides a measure of validation to its Definitive Feasibility Study.

As such, it has now started the next phase of test work, which will define the optimal extraction methodology for the Mississippian brines.

DLE test work

The benchtop testwork program examined the ability of Sunresin’s resin to selectively adsorb lithium over other elements by assaying numerous samples of the discharged, spent brine for the various elements present in the brine on completion of the adsorption process.

All adsorption tests consistently showed the element concentrations remained near the feed brine concentrations throughout each cycle.

Desorption tests conducted on each lithium “loaded” resin column also demonstrated the ability of the resin to readily release the adsorbed lithium.

Paradox project

Anson recently upgraded resources at Paradox to 1Mt lithium carbonate equivalent and 5.27Mt bromine due to a significant increase in the block model grades along with product tonnages for both the clastic zones and the Mississippian units.

There is also considerable potential for further resource upside with the company planning to re-enter historical drillholes in the western areas of the project.

A Definitive Feasibility Study released last September shows attractive economics with Pre-tax NPV and IRR estimated at US$1,306 million and 47% respectively from revenues of US$5,080m over 23 years of operations.

This article was developed in collaboration with Anson Resources (ASX:ASN), a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.