Patriot Battery Metals has produced a marketable and on-specification battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate sample from CV5 pegmatite at its Shaakichiuwaanaan property in Quebec, Canada.
The sample, which meets battery-grade specifications, was derived from spodumene concentrate and represents an advancement for the company’s lithium project.
The CV5 spodumene pegmatite is part of a consolidated mineral resource estimate of 80.1 million tonnes at 1.44% lithium oxide (Li2O) indicated and 62.5 million tonnes at 1.31% Li2O inferred. It is accessible year-round and is near a major hydroelectric powerline corridor.
The 307g sample of lithium hydroxide monohydrate was produced using a bench-scale process at SGS Canada’s Lakefield facility, affirming the viability of the entire flowsheet for commercial production.
The spodumene concentrate, with a Li2O content of 6.2% and an iron oxide content of 0.6%, underwent a series of processes including calcination, sulphuric acid roast, water-leaching and impurity removal to produce the final lithium hydroxide product.
The result of the test programme not only confirms the previous independent test work but also suggests the potential for producing lithium carbonate as an additional product.
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By GlobalData
The sample will aid in the company’s engagement with potential strategic partners, end users and OEMs, demonstrating the quality of spodumene concentrates from CV5 and their amenability to standard processing methods.
Patriot has also completed a core sampling programme to support the ongoing feasibility study on the CV5 spodumene pegmatite, providing material for the next phase of mineral processing testwork and future downstream test programmes.
Patriot Battery Metals director and president Ken Brinsden said: “The successful production of a battery-grade lithium hydroxide product from the cornerstone CV5 spodumene pegmatite marks a key de-risking step in our development strategy. While we are focused on advancing CV5 to production using a simple DMS [dense media separation]-only flowsheet to produce a high-quality spodumene concentrate, it is important to look beyond and from the viewpoint of the end user of the downstream product.
“Not all spodumene concentrates are created equal and by demonstrating that the high-quality, low-iron spodumene concentrate produced from CV5 results in a marketable and on-spec battery-grade lithium hydroxide product, we are further validating and de-risking the project as we eventually look to capitalise on this high-value downstream product category.”
A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) announced for the CV5 pegmatite in August 2024 confirmed it as a potential North American lithium raw materials powerhouse.
The PEA outlines the potential for a competitive and high-grade lithium project worldwide, targeting around 800,000 tonnes per annum of spodumene concentrate using a simple DMS-only process flowsheet.
