Lepidolite is a member of the mica group of minerals and is the most abundant lithium-bearing mineral in the world.
But it is shunned by miners in favour of spodumene ores, which are easier, and far cheaper, to convert to battery grade material.
Last week, Lithium Australia successfully manufactured lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using the products of its SiLeach process, which recovers lithium chemicals from lithium concentrates without expensive roasting.
The company said battery performance compared “very favourably” with batteries using standard lithium carbonate.
Most importantly, the lithium produced was tri-lithium phosphate (Li3PO4) which can be used for the direct production of battery cathode powders, the company told investors.
This removes the challenging and expensive steps of first producing high-purity, battery grade lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate.
Bypassing lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide as battery precursors could “significantly reduce the cost battery manufacture”, Lithium Australia said.
“Not only that, the use of mine waste in the battery production cycle can provide greater sustainability to global lithium resources.”
The breakthrough the company has achieved by generating cathode powders direct from tri-lithium phosphate will significantly influence the economic potential of not only the Sadisdorf project but also similar occurrences elsewhere in Europe.
The application of Lithium Australia’s tech to generate LFP cathode materials from mica feed will be incorporated into scoping studies currently being undertaken on its Sadisdorf lithium project in Germany.
The company to construct a large-scale pilot plant (LSPP), which it hopes will be the world’s first hydrometallurgical facility to produce lithium chemicals from a feedstock mine waste.
Lithium Australia burnt through $4.3 million on the September quarter, with $14.1 million left in the bank at the start of October.
It expected to spend about $2.4 million this quarter.
Get the latest Stockhead news delivered free to your inbox
For investors, getting access to the right information is critical.
Stockhead’s daily newsletters make things simple: Markets coverage, company profiles and industry insights from Australia’s best business journalists – all collated and delivered straight to your inbox every day.
Markets coverage, company profiles and industry insights from Australia’s best business journalists – all collated and delivered straight to your inbox every day.
It’s free. Unsubscribe anytime.
By proceeding, you confirm you understand that we handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
I want the news:
Hear it first
Get the latest Stockhead news delivered free to your inbox.
Thanks! You’re subscribed, Stockhead news is coming your way soon.