Eye on Lithium: majors Albemarle, Pilbara Minerals bite into expansion plans

All your lithium news, Tuesday, July 25.

In a deal worth ~$200m, US lithium giant Albemarle has tapped mining services provider Monadelphous to expand its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant to 100,000tpa.

The news comes on the back of Albemarle’s recent handshake with MinRes to take full ownership of the plant.

Albemarle’s Kemerton expansion includes the construction of additional processing trains 3 and 4 at the plant, near Bunbury.

Once at full capacity, four processing trains will be able to produce up to 100,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium hydroxide – production equivalent to fit in ~2.4 million EVs annually.

Monadelphous (ASX:MND), which will provide front-end pyromet structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works, gained 5.6% on the news.

Meanwhile, WA’s own lithium major Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) is moving ever closer to the development of a new lithium chemical plant as part of its Pilgangoora project expansion.

PLS boss Dale Henderson says more than 70 companies have thrown their hat in the ring to help develop the plant.

Pilbara Minerals continues to print cash in the June quarter, boosting its bank balance by 24% to $3.3 billion after selling 176,300t of spodumene in the fourth quarter, an increase of 22%.

The big focus for PLS is now its move downstream, as it ramps up spodumene output at Pilgangoora to 680,000tpa and then 1Mtpa by the middle of the decade.

Here’s how other Aussie lithium stocks are tracking:

Code	Company	% Today	YTD%	Price	Market Cap
SYA	Sayona Mining Ltd	8%	-3%	0.1625	$1,532,979,637
LPD	Lepidico Ltd	7%	0%	0.016	$114,574,586
AZL	Arizona Lithium Ltd	7%	-3%	0.032	$82,889,605
MRR	Minrex Resources Ltd	7%	-2%	0.016	$16,273,013
PLS	Pilbara Min Ltd	7%	115%	4.895	$13,761,680,538
ARN	Aldoro Resources	6%	1%	0.17	$21,539,799
PMT	Patriot Battery Metals	5%	74%	1.49	$481,502,907
AML	Aeon Metals Ltd.	5%	-1%	0.02	$20,831,612
QPM	Queensland Pacific	5%	-1%	0.105	$174,634,792
LNR	Lanthanein Resources	5%	0%	0.022	$23,553,087
MAN	Mandrake Res Ltd	5%	1%	0.045	$25,746,677
QXR	Qx Resources Limited	5%	-2%	0.023	$19,730,971
MTM	MTM Critical Metals	4%	2%	0.095	$8,831,252
EFE	Eastern Resources	4%	-2%	0.012	$14,282,384
AUN	Aurumin	4%	-4%	0.025	$7,080,950
MIN	Mineral Resources	4%	-618%	71.02	$13,284,972,792
WC8	Wildcat Resources	4%	17%	0.1975	$126,458,604
PNN	Power Minerals Ltd	4%	-13%	0.4	$28,156,699
TEM	Tempest Minerals	4%	-1%	0.0135	$6,588,681
REC	Recharge Metals	4%	14%	0.27	$27,451,963
RIO	Rio Tinto Limited	4%	302%	119.43	$42,782,668,664
EMH	European Metals	4%	22%	0.86	$103,762,894
LRV	Larvotto Resources	3%	0%	0.16	$10,424,482
KZR	Kalamazoo Resources	3%	-5%	0.16	$24,040,436
NKL	Nickelx	3%	-2%	0.064	$5,358,987
AKE	Allkem Limited	3%	427%	15.51	$9,603,130,775
AGY	Argosy Minerals Ltd	3%	-22%	0.35	$477,498,549
IR1	Irismetals	3%	24%	1.4	$108,432,800
VSR	Voltaic Strategic	3%	1%	0.036	$12,931,021
LTR	Liontown Resources	3%	149%	2.805	$6,012,157,750
GL1	Global Lithium	3%	-21%	1.64	$415,669,118
MNS	Magnis Energy Tech	3%	-27%	0.1025	$117,949,815
LM1	Leeuwin Metals Ltd	3%	0%	0.41	$17,914,000
WR1	Winsome Resources	2%	44%	1.67	$264,841,613
FTL	Firetail Resources	2%	-8%	0.085	$7,988,750
ZEO	Zeotech Limited	2%	0%	0.045	$75,060,615
A11	Atlantic Lithium	2%	-16%	0.46	$274,158,747
LEL	Lith Energy	2%	-7%	0.7	$70,561,850
ESS	Essential Metals Ltd	2%	17%	0.49	$129,052,784
VUL	Vulcan Energy	2%	-187%	4.46	$731,255,265
SLM	Solis Minerals	2%	46%	0.53	$32,772,388
IGO	IGO Limited	2%	79%	14.245	$10,601,749,382
NIS	Nickelsearch	2%	-10%	0.06	$5,642,192
EG1	Evergreen Lithium	2%	0%	0.3	$16,587,850
NVA	Nova Minerals Ltd	2%	-35%	0.335	$69,593,687
LRS	Latin Resources Ltd	1%	25%	0.35	$903,579,946
LKE	Lake Resources	1%	-56%	0.2425	$341,386,730
NMT	Neometals Ltd	1%	-29%	0.515	$281,898,000
INR	Ioneer Ltd	1%	-8%	0.3025	$632,823,837
GT1	Green Technology	1%	-19%	0.635	$134,175,839
AVZ	AVZ Minerals Ltd	0%	0%	0.78	$2,752,409,203
GLN	Galan Lithium Ltd	0%	-27%	0.805	$271,216,901
INF	Infinity Lithium	0%	-1%	0.11	$50,885,130
LIT	Lithium Australia	0%	-1%	0.033	$40,299,325
LPI	Lithium Pwr Int Ltd	0%	-14%	0.3	$188,771,268
PLL	Piedmont Lithium Inc	0%	17%	0.81	$310,110,525
RLC	Reedy Lagoon Corp.	0%	0%	0.009	$5,100,476
TKL	Traka Resources	0%	0%	0.009	$7,841,963
PAM	Pan Asia Metals	0%	-17%	0.24	$37,382,744
AM7	Arcadia Minerals	0%	-10%	0.11	$10,345,511
AS2	Askarimetalslimited	0%	-17%	0.27	$18,460,022
BYH	Bryah Resources Ltd	0%	-1%	0.017	$5,873,590
EMS	Eastern Metals	0%	-1%	0.063	$4,192,009
FG1	Flynngold	0%	-5%	0.055	$7,474,265
GSM	Golden State Mining	0%	-1%	0.036	$6,879,178
MMC	Mitre Mining	0%	2%	0.3	$11,470,530
EMC	Everest Metals Corp	0%	8%	0.16	$20,709,297
WCN	White Cliff Min Ltd	0%	0%	0.01	$12,278,519
WML	Woomera Mining Ltd	0%	-1%	0.012	$11,474,335
CRR	Critical Resources	0%	1%	0.053	$84,522,008
KGD	Kula Gold Limited	0%	-1%	0.019	$7,091,026
AZI	Altamin Limited	0%	0%	0.08	$31,337,340
ENT	Enterprise Metals	0%	-1%	0.004	$2,997,884
KAI	Kairos Minerals Ltd	0%	0%	0.023	$50,234,150
STM	Sunstone Metals Ltd	0%	-1%	0.026	$80,131,607
PGD	Peregrine Gold	0%	-12%	0.27	$15,147,705
AVW	Avira Resources Ltd	0%	0%	0.002	$4,267,580
BNR	Bulletin Res Ltd	0%	-4%	0.054	$15,853,919
MQR	Marquee Resource Ltd	0%	0%	0.038	$12,566,885
SRZ	Stellar Resources	0%	0%	0.013	$13,077,535
LSR	Lodestar Minerals	0%	0%	0.009	$16,590,576
AOA	Ausmon Resorces	0%	0%	0.004	$3,877,157
VKA	Viking Mines Ltd	0%	0%	0.012	$12,303,101
SRI	Sipa Resources Ltd	0%	-1%	0.026	$5,932,112
ZNC	Zenith Minerals Ltd	0%	-17%	0.099	$34,885,707
EVR	Ev Resources Ltd	0%	0%	0.014	$13,103,777
THR	Thor Energy PLC	0%	0%	0.004	$5,837,166
YAR	Yari Minerals Ltd	0%	0%	0.019	$9,164,798
MXR	Maximus Resources	0%	-1%	0.033	$10,528,840
LLI	Loyal Lithium Ltd	0%	3%	0.32	$19,996,800
LRD	Lord Resources	0%	-7%	0.095	$3,527,551
WMC	Wiluna Mining Corp	0%	0%	0.205	$74,238,031
ALY	Alchemy Resource Ltd	0%	-1%	0.014	$16,493,068
LIS	Lisenergy	0%	-6%	0.26	$43,137,689
TYX	Tyranna Res Ltd	0%	0%	0.022	$72,301,357
DAF	Discovery Alaska Ltd	0%	-1%	0.027	$6,324,337
DAL	Dalaroo Metals	0%	-5%	0.055	$2,382,875
TUL	Tulla Resources	0%	-33%	0	$118,262,971
LLL	Leo Llithium	0%	66%	1.14	$1,125,447,873
CMD	Cassius Mining Ltd	0%	2%	0.038	$18,875,672
LLO	Lion One Metals Ltd	0%	-25%	0.925	$12,517,881
BUR	Burleyminerals	0%	-5%	0.17	$17,220,449
RMX	Red Mount Min Ltd	0%	0%	0.005	$11,559,255
ENT	Enterprise Metals	0%	-1%	0.004	$2,997,884
FIN	FIN Resources Ltd	0%	0%	0.015	$9,315,530
DTM	Dart Mining NL	0%	-2%	0.034	$5,857,766
XTC	Xantippe Res Ltd	0%	0%	0.002	$22,960,199
LPM	Lithium Plus	0%	-10%	0.275	$18,146,755
KOB	Koba Resources	0%	4%	0.175	$18,447,917
EMC	Everest Metals Corp	0%	8%	0.16	$20,709,297
LRD	Lord Resources	0%	-7%	0.095	$3,527,551
IEC	Intra Energy Corp	0%	0%	0.004	$6,483,126
DYM	Dynamic Metals	0%	0%	0.265	$9,275,000
TMX	Terrain Minerals	0%	0%	0.006	$6,499,196
MHC	Manhattan Corp Ltd	0%	0%	0.009	$26,426,508
MHK	Metalhawk.	0%	-2%	0.145	$9,870,124
L1M	Lightning Minerals	0%	2%	0.18	$7,059,276
AZS	Azure Minerals	0%	152%	1.745	$682,913,126
DLI	Delta Lithium	-1%	39%	0.86	$451,424,489
WES	Wesfarmers Limited	-1%	288%	48.785	$55,860,467,053
SCN	Scorpion Minerals	-1%	0%	0.07	$24,545,140
ANX	Anax Metals Ltd	-2%	1%	0.061	$25,382,479
CHR	Charger Metals	-2%	-16%	0.285	$18,013,167
OCN	Oceana Lithium	-2%	-7%	0.28	$15,126,803
PAT	Patriot Lithium	-2%	-1%	0.255	$15,960,751
SGQ	St George Min Ltd	-2%	-2%	0.044	$37,822,975
FBM	Future Battery	-2%	5%	0.1075	$47,062,965
AAJ	Aruma Resources Ltd	-2%	-1%	0.042	$8,436,680
EUR	European Lithium Ltd	-2%	1%	0.083	$118,510,330
JRL	Jindalee Resources	-3%	0%	1.885	$111,028,299
PL3	Patagonia Lithium	-3%	0%	0.185	$9,310,665
MM1	Midas Minerals	-3%	14%	0.335	$25,340,047
RAS	Ragusa Minerals Ltd	-3%	-5%	0.061	$8,983,724
TON	Triton Min Ltd	-3%	-1%	0.03	$48,402,024
DRE	Dreadnought Resources	-3%	-5%	0.057	$196,335,965
CY5	Cygnus Metals Ltd	-4%	-11%	0.275	$63,632,103
BM8	Battery Age Minerals	-4%	-10%	0.4	$30,800,538
PSC	Prospect Res Ltd	-4%	1%	0.125	$60,093,730
RGL	Riversgold	-4%	-2%	0.0125	$12,366,399
VMC	Venus Metals Cor Ltd	-4%	4%	0.12	$23,716,085
TKM	Trek Metals Ltd	-4%	2%	0.096	$44,312,008
AX8	Accelerate Resources	-4%	0%	0.023	$9,110,442
ICL	Iceni Gold	-4%	4%	0.115	$25,028,571
G88	Golden Mile Res Ltd	-4%	2%	0.044	$15,151,917
ASN	Anson Resources Ltd	-5%	-3%	0.1575	$209,636,388
FRS	Forrestaniaresources	-5%	-4%	0.105	$10,243,465
NWM	Norwest Minerals	-5%	1%	0.06	$17,490,974
BMM	Balkan Mining and Minerals	-5%	-15%	0.18	$11,603,683
CXO	Core Lithium	-6%	-35%	0.68	$1,338,132,092
MLS	Metals Australia	-6%	-1%	0.032	$21,217,230
1MC	Morella Corporation	-6%	0%	0.0075	$48,788,644
IMI	Infinity Mining	-6%	-13%	0.15	$12,236,531
TMB	Tambourah Metals	-6%	12%	0.225	$10,144,609
A8G	Australasian Metals	-6%	-4%	0.15	$8,339,279
SBR	Sabre Resources	-6%	-1%	0.03	$9,327,558
KTA	Krakatoa Resources	-6%	-2%	0.029	$13,217,674
TOR	Torque Met	-7%	-4%	0.14	$14,450,556
ADV	Ardiden Ltd	-7%	0%	0.0065	$18,818,347
CAI	Calidus Resources	-8%	-9%	0.18	$118,483,982
RAG	Ragnar Metals Ltd	-9%	1%	0.021	$8,721,252
GW1	Greenwing Resources	-9%	-7%	0.21	$34,479,248
M2R	Miramar	-11%	-4%	0.039	$4,880,779
IPT	Impact Minerals	-12%	1%	0.015	$48,359,966
EPM	Eclipse Metals	-13%	0%	0.02	$46,645,375
CTN	Catalina Resources	-20%	-1%	0.004	$6,192,434

50 intrepid lithium stocks pushed higher today while 67 remained flat. 46 dropped into the red.

WHO’S GOT NEWS OUT?

SULTAN RESOURCES (ASX:SLZ)

SLZ has identified multiple pegmatite occurrences up to 30m outcrop and 15m width in early sampling at the Ruddy lithium project in Ontario, Canada.

Four helicopter-supported geologists conducted reconnaissance over the project, sampling priority outcrop, including pegmatitic occurrences for lithium and associated elements.

The explorer intends to use resultant lithium values and geochemical markers, such as K/Rb ratios to focus additional fieldwork to discover possible covered mineralised LCT pegmatites.

SLZ chair Jeremy King said the team was pleased that initial observations at Ruddy confirmed and refined a priority target area within the previously interpreted LCT Goldilocks Zone.

“We eagerly await assay laboratory results to further focus our on-ground activity within the tenure,” King said.

SAYONA MINING (ASX:SYA)

(Up on no news)

Investors jumped back into miner SYA today, taking the share price up more than 8%.

Two weeks ago, the explorer announced drill results that showed a significant expansion to its Moblan lithium project footprint, with high-grade intercepts that included 41.0m @ 1.66% Li2O from 80.8m in hole and 42.7m @ 1.42% Li2O from 119.9m.

The results have continued to extend known mineralisation, including at the South Pegmatite system.

77 further drill holes were completed for 15,122m, with assay results pending. To date, a total of 33,564m has been completed out of the planned 60,000m program for this year.

Moblan currently has a JORC measured, indicated and inferred resource of 51.4Mt @ 1.31% Li2O – which is likely to increase when its planned definitive feasibility study (DFS) is completed later this year.

Sayona MD Brett Lynch said Moblan is shaping up as one of the leading hard rock lithium deposits in North America as it advances planned moves towards downstream processing.

“Working in partnership with the Québec Government, Sayona will deliver even more speed and more tonnes faster through this expanding northern hub.”

At Stockhead we tell it like it is, while Sultan Resources is a Stockhead advertiser, they did not sponsor this article.