Eye on Lithium: Carbonate price rally slows in March, hydroxide maintains momentum
Pic: Getty
- Benchmark’s lithium price index was up 20.3% month-on-month for March
- Latin has picked up a 50-hectare lithium tenement just east of Brazilian project
- Askari identifies pegmatites in a previously unexplored area of its Barrow Creek project in the NT
All your ASX lithium news for Wednesday, April 6.
Benchmark has released its lithium price assessment for March and it looks like the Chinese carbonate rally has slowed while domestic hydroxide prices maintain upward momentum.
“Lithium carbonate price increases in the Chinese domestic market eased in the second half of March as a result of hesitance from buyers to surpass the RMB 500,000/tonne ($79,000) boundary,” Benchmark said.
“Meanwhile, domestic Chinese lithium hydroxide prices continued to move upwards, narrowing the price disparity that opened up between carbonate and hydroxide in the second half of 2021.”
Benchmark’s own price index has seen a 20.3% increase month-on-month.
“Internationally, prices for small spot volumes of both lithium carbonate and hydroxide continued to move closer to parity with the Chinese spot market, whilst contracts which are not set to be renegotiated until the end of the quarter held the lower end of pricing stable,” they said.
“As such, the Benchmark Lithium Price Index saw an increase of 20.3% m-o-m. In a bid to secure future traditional lithium feedstock supply amid tightening availability, downstream supply chain participants signed spodumene offtake agreements in March.”
Here’s how ASX lithium stocks are tracking today:
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| Code | Company | Price | % Month | % Week | % Today | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEM | Tempest Minerals | 0.125 | 443% | 52% | 19% | $41,779,594.29 |
| IPT | Impact Minerals | 0.014 | 8% | 17% | 17% | $26,285,539.03 |
| ENT | Enterprise Metals | 0.022 | 57% | 57% | 16% | $12,248,290.25 |
| LRS | Latin Resources Ltd | 0.19 | 387% | 150% | 15% | $266,134,463.93 |
| LSR | Lodestar Minerals | 0.02 | 54% | 54% | 11% | $31,291,872.26 |
| JRL | Jindalee Resources | 4.08 | 37% | 35% | 9% | $212,531,543.18 |
| AS2 | Askarimetalslimited | 0.65 | 73% | 19% | 9% | $22,996,769.64 |
| SYA | Sayona Mining Ltd | 0.33 | 154% | 40% | 6% | $2,200,819,025.10 |
| QXR | Qx Resources Limited | 0.087 | 85% | 43% | 6% | $68,130,710.32 |
| EPM | Eclipse Metals | 0.038 | 65% | 36% | 6% | $69,160,550.87 |
| TMB | Tambourahmetals | 0.29 | 35% | 16% | 5% | $11,327,964.45 |
| MM1 | Midasmineralsltd | 0.21 | 31% | 24% | 5% | $10,687,625.00 |
| PNN | PepinNini Minerals | 0.62 | 51% | 38% | 4% | $36,424,896.83 |
| AGY | Argosy Minerals Ltd | 0.525 | 64% | 24% | 4% | $669,451,726.92 |
| RAS | Ragusa Minerals Ltd | 0.087 | 64% | 7% | 4% | $10,555,257.72 |
| MIN | Mineral Resources. | 60.69 | 27% | 21% | 2% | $11,268,692,090.37 |
| NWM | Norwest Minerals | 0.062 | 11% | -2% | 2% | $11,017,050.61 |
| MXR | Maximus Resources | 0.076 | 19% | 21% | 1% | $23,842,932.60 |
| CAI | Calidus Resources | 0.975 | 23% | -2% | 1% | $390,228,097.76 |
| 1MC | Morella Corporation | 0.037 | 54% | 3% | 0% | $191,519,917.48 |
| ARN | Aldoro Resources | 0.29 | -19% | -8% | 0% | $26,024,190.81 |
| ASN | Anson Resources Ltd | 0.155 | 24% | 11% | 0% | $158,324,991.03 |
| AVW | Avira Resources Ltd | 0.007 | 40% | 40% | 0% | $14,831,530.00 |
| AX8 | Accelerate Resources | 0.065 | 44% | 10% | 0% | $16,474,828.44 |
| BYH | Bryah Resources Ltd | 0.053 | 10% | 10% | 0% | $11,988,980.28 |
| DTM | Dart Mining NL | 0.083 | -2% | -1% | 0% | $10,332,747.19 |
| FRS | Forrestaniaresources | 0.36 | -8% | 3% | 0% | $10,115,569.44 |
| GSM | Golden State Mining | 0.11 | 39% | 29% | 0% | $9,139,678.35 |
| INF | Infinity Lithium | 0.175 | 13% | 6% | 0% | $72,595,152.18 |
| KAI | Kairos Minerals Ltd | 0.029 | 32% | 0% | 0% | $56,900,711.24 |
| M2R | Miramar | 0.175 | 6% | 3% | 0% | $8,717,628.50 |
| NVA | Nova Minerals Ltd | 0.95 | 61% | 14% | 0% | $171,192,170.75 |
| QPM | Queensland Pacific | 0.215 | 43% | 19% | 0% | $331,769,323.17 |
| RMX | Red Mount Min Ltd | 0.009 | 13% | -5% | 0% | $14,781,274.72 |
| SCN | Scorpion Minerals | 0.067 | -6% | 8% | 0% | $18,056,914.86 |
| SHH | Shree Minerals Ltd | 0.016 | -6% | 0% | 0% | $19,555,790.27 |
| SRI | Sipa Resources Ltd | 0.051 | -6% | 6% | 0% | $10,456,264.95 |
| SRZ | Stellar Resources | 0.028 | 8% | 8% | 0% | $23,444,473.53 |
| THR | Thor Mining PLC | 0.017 | 21% | 21% | 0% | $15,871,176.08 |
| TON | Triton Min Ltd | 0.034 | 17% | 21% | 0% | $42,254,662.02 |
| TSC | Twenty Seven Co. Ltd | 0.004 | -11% | 0% | 0% | $10,643,255.62 |
| VMC | Venus Metals Cor Ltd | 0.185 | 3% | 3% | 0% | $27,949,556.36 |
| WC8 | Wildcat Resources | 0.035 | 17% | -5% | 0% | $22,584,545.45 |
| PSC | Prospect Res Ltd | 0.885 | 5% | 1% | -1% | $383,851,372.53 |
| VUL | Vulcan Energy | 10.1 | 11% | 2% | -1% | $1,338,830,565.30 |
| GLN | Galan Lithium Ltd | 2.15 | 57% | 20% | -1% | $660,520,575.54 |
| LEL | Lithenergy | 1.02 | 11% | 13% | -1% | $46,350,000.00 |
| WR1 | Winsome Resources | 0.51 | 44% | 4% | -1% | $69,246,896.91 |
| RIO | Rio Tinto Limited | 119.05 | -6% | 2% | -1% | $44,635,037,571.36 |
| CRR | Critical Resources | 0.091 | 18% | 21% | -1% | $136,655,558.18 |
| IGO | IGO Limited | 14.395 | 18% | 3% | -1% | $11,025,819,357.28 |
| AKE | Allkem Limited | 13.21 | 33% | 17% | -2% | $8,557,371,514.12 |
| AM7 | Arcadia Minerals | 0.265 | 20% | 4% | -2% | $9,447,975.00 |
| LRV | Larvottoresources | 0.235 | 27% | -2% | -2% | $9,889,800.00 |
| LIT | Lithium Australia NL | 0.1125 | 7% | 2% | -2% | $118,870,465.76 |
| CHR | Charger Metals | 0.82 | 21% | 18% | -2% | $27,354,069.12 |
| LPD | Lepidico Ltd | 0.041 | 28% | 11% | -2% | $263,541,935.92 |
| MRR | Minrex Resources Ltd | 0.08 | 38% | 31% | -2% | $73,135,881.43 |
| BMM | Balkanminingandmin | 0.37 | 37% | 14% | -3% | $12,445,000.00 |
| STM | Sunstone Metals Ltd | 0.074 | -5% | -4% | -3% | $170,203,594.40 |
| RGL | Riversgold | 0.097 | 296% | 102% | -3% | $46,967,622.26 |
| WCN | White Cliff Min Ltd | 0.036 | 38% | 50% | -3% | $24,073,176.76 |
| PAM | Pan Asia Metals | 0.535 | 1% | 1% | -3% | $40,512,254.20 |
| GT1 | Greentechnology | 0.88 | 9% | 4% | -3% | $95,930,000.00 |
| RAG | Ragnar Metals Ltd | 0.033 | 22% | 6% | -3% | $12,671,286.23 |
| AZI | Altamin Limited | 0.094 | 38% | 29% | -3% | $37,720,579.34 |
| EFE | Eastern Resources | 0.058 | 18% | 18% | -3% | $59,382,510.36 |
| BNR | Bulletin Res Ltd | 0.26 | 73% | 21% | -4% | $78,316,175.70 |
| AML | Aeon Metals Ltd. | 0.074 | 48% | 19% | -4% | $66,667,284.38 |
| KGD | Kula Gold Limited | 0.048 | 7% | 4% | -4% | $10,758,781.60 |
| WML | Woomera Mining Ltd | 0.023 | 35% | 28% | -4% | $16,483,993.58 |
| KZR | Kalamazoo Resources | 0.34 | 17% | -7% | -4% | $51,544,002.77 |
| ESS | Essential Metals Ltd | 0.545 | 56% | 18% | -4% | $139,275,715.20 |
| EVR | Ev Resources Ltd | 0.063 | 21% | 21% | -5% | $61,114,948.69 |
| MTM | Mtmongerresources | 0.21 | 27% | 14% | -5% | $7,625,207.26 |
| ZNC | Zenith Minerals Ltd | 0.41 | 19% | 9% | -5% | $147,878,786.65 |
| GL1 | Globallith | 2.45 | 50% | 9% | -5% | $405,589,109.18 |
| PLS | Pilbara Min Ltd | 3.38 | 20% | 4% | -5% | $10,567,761,385.15 |
| MNS | Magnis Energy Tech | 0.495 | 15% | 3% | -5% | $502,208,371.08 |
| NMT | Neometals Ltd | 1.74 | 17% | 5% | -5% | $1,006,270,686.66 |
| CXO | Core Lithium | 1.3925 | 47% | 8% | -5% | $2,521,141,458.99 |
| LTR | Liontown Resources | 1.88 | 21% | -2% | -6% | $4,362,528,144.02 |
| IMI | Infinitymining | 0.17 | 0% | 13% | -6% | $10,350,000.00 |
| RLC | Reedy Lagoon Corp. | 0.034 | 36% | 17% | -6% | $19,740,860.28 |
| RDT | Red Dirt Metals Ltd | 0.67 | 26% | -1% | -6% | $212,426,297.28 |
| A8G | Australasian Metals | 0.5 | 6% | 4% | -6% | $21,290,361.82 |
| LKE | Lake Resources | 2.12 | 114% | 10% | -6% | $2,874,470,580.00 |
| INR | Ioneer Ltd | 0.725 | 38% | 24% | -6% | $1,609,722,267.23 |
| G88 | Golden Mile Res Ltd | 0.064 | 8% | 7% | -6% | $13,649,817.75 |
| AAJ | Aruma Resources Ltd | 0.155 | 80% | 55% | -6% | $25,898,648.00 |
| MQR | Marquee Resource Ltd | 0.115 | 10% | 15% | -6% | $26,778,818.75 |
| EMH | European Metals Hldg | 1.36 | 13% | 11% | -6% | $204,126,599.25 |
| EMS | Eastern Metals | 0.215 | 2% | 16% | -7% | $8,188,000.00 |
| ADV | Ardiden Ltd | 0.014 | 17% | 8% | -7% | $39,909,635.34 |
| AVZ | AVZ Minerals Ltd | 1.1425 | 25% | -7% | -7% | $4,228,777,273.00 |
| FFX | Firefinch Ltd | 1.1325 | 63% | 20% | -7% | $1,435,210,513.52 |
| MMC | Mitremining | 0.2 | 3% | 5% | -7% | $5,823,296.50 |
| AZL | Arizona Lithium Ltd | 0.195 | 39% | 30% | -7% | $427,618,629.27 |
| LPI | Lithium Pwr Int Ltd | 0.895 | 40% | 36% | -8% | $340,416,226.80 |
| PGD | Peregrine Gold | 0.5 | -4% | 6% | -8% | $20,866,234.61 |
| DRE | Dreadnought Resources Ltd | 0.044 | 10% | 16% | -8% | $136,256,810.45 |
| TKL | Traka Resources | 0.011 | 0% | 10% | -8% | $8,265,294.73 |
| VKA | Viking Mines Ltd | 0.011 | -8% | 0% | -8% | $12,303,101.17 |
| CZL | Cons Zinc Ltd | 0.037 | 32% | 28% | -10% | $12,355,670.33 |
| FG1 | Flynngold | 0.185 | 12% | 32% | -10% | $13,132,515.25 |
| AOA | Ausmon Resorces | 0.009 | 29% | 13% | -10% | $8,572,893.43 |
| PLL | Piedmont Lithium Inc | 0.925 | 16% | -3% | -10% | $543,397,924.00 |
| EUR | European Lithium Ltd | 0.14 | 40% | -7% | -13% | $184,301,503.84 |
| MLS | Metals Australia | 0.135 | 53% | 45% | -13% | $56,408,854.73 |
Only 19 stocks were in the green today, with 25 flatlining and 66 in the red.
Who’s got news out today?
The lithium explorer has secured an additional 50-hectare lithium tenement to the east of its ‘Salinas’ project in the Bananal Valley district in eastern Brazil.
The Monte Alto tenement area has known outcropping spodumene bearing pegmatites, grading up to 2.30% Li2O from recent surface sampling by Latin’s geology team.
The company says it will immediately relocate one of the two drilling rigs on site to the new Monte Alto tenement area to commence an initial 2,000m reconnaissance drilling program.
LRS Share price today
The company has identified extensive pegmatite outcrops at a previously unexplored SE area of its Barrow Creek lithium project in the NT.
“We mapped and sampled over the 6km of strike and sampled every pegmatite outcrop available,” VP exploration and geology Johan Lambrects said.
“The pegmatites in this South-Eastern area and visually similar to the fertile pegmatites identified in the Northern area, but are significantly more numerous and larger.”
The company says a total of 69 rock samples were sent to the lab, with assay results expected in May/June.
AS2 Share price today
Argosy commenced seismic surveying works at the Tonopah Lithium Project in Nevada. The next stage exploration works will comprise drilling the lithium brine targets, to determine lithium brine potential set for later in 2022.
“We expect these works to realise the potential of our strategic project in an established “Tier-1” mining region,” MD Jerko Zuvela said.
“The significant impetus for local lithium supply in the USA has become critical, and our Tonopah Lithium Project is in prime position and enhances Argosy’s value to all strategic groups across the battery and EV industry supply chain.”
AGY Share price today
Vulcan has executed an agreement to supply German energy company, MVV, with 240 gigawatt hours per year of renewable heat.
Essentially, the company is aiming to produce both renewable geothermal energy and lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries from the same deep brine source in its Zero Carbon Lithium project in Germany.
The heat will be supplied from Vulcan’s planned geothermal wells in the area surrounding the City of Mannheim. Heat will be transferred via heating grids and a series of underground pipes that deliver hot water or steam to buildings in the local community.
Vulcan is developing its Mannheim licence as part of a planned larger Phase 2 of the project.
“We believe that Geothermal renewable energy on a mass scale, combined with lithium extraction from the same deep geothermal source, can and will play an important part in achieving Europe and Germany’s energy security and independence,” MD Dr Francis Wedin said.
VUL Share price today
The company has received Environmental Impact Assessment approval to explore a second key tenement at its Solaroz lithium brine project in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle.
The 543 hectare Mario Angel tenement is on the western side of the lithium rich Olaroz Salar, just 6km west of Allkem’s (ASX:AKE) brine production fields for its Olaroz processing facility.
Another six tenements are expected to be granted shortly, enabling LEL to get to work proving up its exploration target of 1.5-8.7Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent at a lithium concentration of 500mg/L to 700 mg/L.
LEL Share price today
Drilling approvals have been received for the company’s Mavis Lake project in Canada, with plans to kick off the 5,000m diamond drilling program in mid-April.
Previous drill programs have yielded high-grade Li2O intercepts including:
- 25m at 1.04% Li2O from 80.75m; and
- 30m at 1.70% Li2O from 111.9m, including 7.70m at 2.97% Li2O from 130.5m.
“We believe that our asset base in Canada and our exploration strategy in country will position the company as a key player in Ontario’s lithium sector,” MD Alex Biggs said.
CRR Share price today
Larvotto has applied for an exploration licence adjoining its Eyre Project in Western Australia (E63/2213), increasing its landholding to a total of approximately 667km2.
The ground was applied for on the basis of an airborne magnetic geophysical survey that has indicated the presence of interesting rock units within the tenement which is immediately east of the company’s Merivale lithium prospect and south of Liontown Resources Limited’s (ASX:LTR) Buldania lithium project.
Larvotto will commence an auger soil geochemical sampling program as soon as Native Title approvals are received to test two initial areas, prospective for lithium and base metals, where historical exploration has identified broad anomalous zones.
LRV Share price today
The company has selected Lycopodium to assist with the definitive feasibility study for its 10,000 tonnes per annum lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) production plant.
LIT says its DFS activities have been expanded to include early-stage, semi-commercial LFP production, to support the final stages of product pre-qualification – and it expects to advance offtake discussions in parallel with the DFS.
LIT Share price today
MQR has received firm commitments for a placement to raise A$5,705,505 at A$0.105 per share with the funds to be used for drilling and exploration work at its Kibby Basin Lithium Project and West Spargoville Lithium Project – among others.
The plan is to also raise up to $2m via a share purchase plan on the same terms.
The Kibby Basin drill campaign will commence in late April.
Notably, the project is located ~50kms north of Ioneer’s(ASX:INR) flagship Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project which has recently been joint ventured with Sibanye Stillwater Limited to develop the project, with Sibanye-Stillwater contributing US$490 million for a 50% interest in the joint venture.
MQR Share price today
The company has received firm commitments from global institutional and sophisticated investors for a A$30 million placement at A$0.13 per share.
The funds will be used to advance the company’s Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria, including for:
- Strategic land acquisition;
- A resource extension drill program of Zone 2;
- Stage 1 of project development metallurgical test work for by-products;
- SRK consulting for JORC compliance; and
- For general exploration purposes and working capital.
EUR Share price today
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