An expanded program of metallurgical test work has been completed on drill core from the Salinas Lithium Project in Brazil, reporting high recoveries and the production of a high-grade concentrate.

Latin (ASX:LRS) commissioned SGS GEOSOL laboratories (SGS) to undertake a program of HLS testwork on 10 samples representing the total strike length of the current resource drilling program.

One of the main objectives of this program was to investigate potential variability in metallurgical performance across the deposit, and at varying depths.

Results of the test work has shown that simple Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) was able to recover an average of 80.5% of the Li2O into a concentrate grading a very high average of 6.30% Li2O.

They also show “excellent consistency” across the width and depth of the known ore body, with concentrates well above 7% and as high as 7.96% Li2O.

Delighted with consistency as work progresses on PEA program

“The latest round of testwork is extremely encouraging for our recoveries at Salinas and we are delighted with the consistency of results we have been able to achieve,” LRS general manager of geology Tony Greenaway says.

“While these results cannot be directly translated to an operational environment, they do have very significant implications for the marketability and the economics of our concentrate.

“We intend to progress this into bulk pilot plant testwork, where we will optimise the flowsheet for the detailed PEA program that is planned to be completed by SGS in the first quarter next year.”

Looking ahead

Very coarse liberation results in minimal fines generation (~12%) indicates a final plant design may have a low reliance on floatation as a necessary step to achieving high Li2O recovery.

This means a reduced size of any floatation plant if this option is pursued.

Latin intends to proceed with bulk pilot plant testwork based on the very encouraging results obtained in this program.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Latin Resources, 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.

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