- Li-FT Power Ltd. (LIFFF, Financial) reports promising preliminary lithium extraction results from its Yellowknife Lithium Project.
- The testwork achieved up to 98% lithium extraction with significant spodumene concentrate.
- Pioneering lithium solution concentration reached as high as 19,600 mg/L, supporting North America's battery supply chain.
Li-FT Power Ltd. (LIFFF) has announced breakthrough results from its preliminary lithium conversion testwork conducted on its Yellowknife Lithium Project's spodumene concentrate. This promising development indicates up to a 98% lithium extraction rate under typical operating conditions, showcasing the project's potential contribution to North America's battery supply chain.
The testwork, carried out at SGS Canada, focused on a dense media separation (DMS) concentrate sample from the Big East deposit. The sample showed a high-grade lithium oxide (Li2O) content of 5.60% and an iron oxide (Fe2O3) content of 0.65%, with the mineralogical analysis confirming 70% spodumene content.
Key processes in the testwork included calcination, sulphuric acid mixing and roasting, and subsequent water leaching. The optimal conditions for lithium extraction involved calcination at temperatures exceeding 1050°C for a 30-minute residence time, which resulted in lithium solution concentrations reaching up to 19,600 mg/L.
The successful results of this testwork signal an important technical milestone for Li-FT Power (LIFFF, Financial), advancing the Yellowknife Lithium Project towards becoming a pivotal high-quality lithium source for the burgeoning North American battery market.
