Infinity Lithium is just loving the direction of its latest GreenTech testwork

Infinity Lithium’s GreenTech test work operations are shifting into high gear following a spike in recoveries of lithium on micas sourced from open circuit testing at San José.

With bench-scale locked cycle test (LCT) work currently underway, the company has now broadened its scope to assess the application of the process to other lithium minerals such as lepidolite and zinnwaldite as well as lithium clays such as hectorite.

This work is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022.

Pedal to the metal

Accelerated pilot-scale development has also started with Infinity Lithium (ASX:INF) lodging major equipment orders with preferred suppliers.

The new kit is expected to be installed and fully operational by the second quarter, which will accelerate laboratory-scale work and fast-track pilot-scale testing shortly thereafter with meaningful results expected in the third quarter of 2022.

INF’s strategic team believes the process can also be utilised to capture value from onsite exploitation of comparatively small-scale resources.

San José project

Infinity Lithium’s 75%-owned San José lithium project in central-western Spain has a JORC resource of 111.2 million tonnes for more than 1.6 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent.

While originally planned as an open pit mine, the company is taking the project underground, neatly addressing permitting issues and opening up other opportunities.

A scoping study released in October outlined steady state production of 19,500 tonnes per annum of battery grade lithium hydroxide over a life of 26 years. The numbers outline pre-tax net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) of US$811m and 25.6% respectively, and a 3.2 year payback.

thyssenkrupp: so big we don’t use capitals

Meanwhile, Infinity has just inked a partnership with European industrial giant thyssenkrupp exploring the use of green hydrogen to produce battery-grade lithium chemicals, another nod to the company’s growing green credentials.

This article was developed in collaboration with Infinity Lithium, 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.