Patriot Successfully Produces Sample of Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide from the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite
Press Release
December 4, 2024
Highlights
- 307 g sample of marketable, on-specification, battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate product produced from the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite.
- The CV5 Pegmatite Deposit forms the cornerstone of the Company’s Shaakichiuwaanaan Lithium Project in Canada, representing the bulk of the consolidated Mineral Resource Estimate[1] of 80.1 Mt at 1.44% Li2O Indicated and 62.5 Mt at 1.31% Li2O Inferred.
- No impurities of concern
- Testwork completed as a successful “proof-of-concept” to demonstrate that a high-quality battery-grade lithium end-product can be produced using representative feed material from CV5.
- The test sample was produced from spodumene concentrate grading 6.2 % Li2O and 0.6% Fe2O3, produced from a Dense Media Separation (“DMS”) pilot plant using drill core samples representing the expected early mine-life at the CV5 Pegmatite.
- This marks a significant de-risking milestone as Patriot advances CV5 through the stages of development.
- Sample to be used to further advance and strengthen engagement with potential strategic partners and end-users.
Ken Brinsden, Director, President, and CEO of the Company, comments: “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-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 capitalize on this high-value downstream product category.” added Mr. Brinsden.
Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (the “Company” or “Patriot”) (TSX: PMET) (ASX: PMT) (OTCQX: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) is pleased to announce that it has successfully produced a marketable and on-specification (“on-spec”) battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate sample using spodumene concentrate from the CV5 Pegmatite. The CV5 Pegmatite, wholly-owned by the Company as part of its Shaakichiuwaanaan Property, is located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec and forms the large majority of a consolidated Mineral Resource Estimate[2] of 80.1 Mt at 1.44% Li2O indicated and 62.5 Mt at 1.31% Li2Oinferred.
The CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite is accessible year-round by all-season road and is situated approximately 14 km from a major hydro-electric powerline corridor.
The sample (307 g) of marketable, on-specification (“on-spec”), battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (Figure 1) was produced using spodumene concentrate (6.2% Li2O, 0.6% Fe2O3) from the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite. The conversion testwork was performed using a bench-scale equivalent of a typical downstream commercial process flowsheet and completed at SGS Canada’s Lakefield, ON, facility.
The objective of the test program was to demonstrate a “proof-of-concept” for the entire flowsheet using representative spodumene concentrate produced from whole rock pegmatite (CV5). The program was highly successful and converted the spodumene concentrate to a lithium hydroxide monohydrate product at battery-grade specifications. The result of this program also affirms prior testwork undertaken by other independent parties.
Figure 1: Marketable, on spec, battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate produced from the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite.
The spodumene concentrate was produced using a simple DMS-only (+ magnetic separation) flowsheet which was fed by a master-composite of drill core material, representing anticipated early mine-life (Figure2). This master composite included 15% non-pegmatite host-rock dilution to better represent a conservative (in terms of dilution content) commercial mining operation scenario.
Figure 2: Crushed whole rock pegmatite with 15% non-pegmatite host rock dilution – 1.05% Li2O (left); DMS spodumene concentrate feed for the downstream test work – 6.2% Li2O and 0.60% Fe2O3 (right).
The DMS spodumene concentrate (Figure 2) was subjected to a typical calcination step, converting the spodumene mineral from its natural and non-leachable α-spodumene structure into its leachable β-spodumene structure. The calcine (solid) was then ground to 100% passing minus 300 µm and subjected to a sulphuric acid roast. The roasted material was then water-leached, placing the lithium into solution as lithium sulphate. The solution then underwent primary impurity removal where, principally, iron and aluminum were removed by selective precipitation with hydrated lime. Air sparging was used to oxidize the iron from the ferrous to ferric state in the lithium sulphate solution.
The lithium sulphate solution was then subjected to secondary impurity removal stage which precipitated most of the calcium and magnesium by selective precipitation with sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate. The remaining calcium and trace magnesium in the lithium sulphate solution were removed by ion exchange using Lanxess MDS TP208 resin (Figure 3 and Figure 4).
The purified lithium sulphate solution was first concentrated by evaporation (this step would be removed in a commercial plant as water-leach parameters are optimized). The lithium sulphate in solution was transformed into lithium hydroxide by the addition of sodium hydroxide (causticization step). The sodium sulphate ions in solution were then removed by a traditional crystallization of sodium sulphate as Glauber’s salt.
Finally, lithium hydroxide monohydrate was produced by a 2-step crystallization process, with a final quality that exceeded battery grade specifications (i.e. LiOH•H2O >99.9%) with no notable impurities of concern present (Figure 1).
Additionally, the purity of the lithium solution from the earlier process step is a strong indication that an on-spec, battery-grade lithium carbonate product may also be directly produced from CV5 as an additional product option. Collectively, the result of the test program highlights the benefits to downstream processing when using a clean and low-iron spodumene concentrate such as that produced from the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite.
The representative lithium hydroxide sample produced from the CV5 Pegmatite will be used to further advance and strengthen the Company’s engagement with potential strategic partners, end-users, and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). The ability to demonstrate with definitive data that high-quality, low-iron spodumene concentrates from CV5 are amenable to standard downstream processing methods resulting in on-spec battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate, is significant.
The production of this sample marks a key milestone for the Company and represents a significant de-risking of the Project.
The Company has recently completed a significant core sampling program to provide additional representative material for the next phase of mineral processing testwork in support of the ongoing Feasibility Study on the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite. This program will provide significant quantities of representative spodumene concentrate for any future downstream test programs.
Figure 3: Water-leach and ion exchange impurity removal stages of the lithium hydroxide flowsheet.
Figure 4: Filtering stage and resultant filter cake post water-leaching and impurity removal.
Qualified/Competent Person
The information in this news release that relates to exploration results for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Property is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr. Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and member in good standing with the Ordre des Géologues du Québec (Geologist Permit number 01968), and with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (member number 87868). Mr. Smith has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.
Mr. Smith is an Executive and Vice President of Exploration for Patriot Battery Metals Inc. and holds common shares and options in the Company.
Mr. Smith has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralization, type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as described by the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the JORC Code). Mr. Smith consents to the inclusion in this news release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
About Patriot Battery Metals Inc.
Patriot Battery Metals Inc. is a hard-rock lithium exploration company focused on advancing its district-scale 100%-owned Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (formerly known as Corvette) located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada, which is accessible year-round by all-season road and is proximal to regional powerline infrastructure. The Shaakichiuwaanaan Mineral Resource[3], which includes the CV5 & CV13 spodumene pegmatites, totals 80.1 Mt at 1.44% Li2O Indicated, and 62.5 Mt at 1.31% Li2O Inferred, and ranks as the largest lithium pegmatite resource in the Americas, and the 8th largest lithium pegmatite resource in the world.
A Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) was announced for the CV5 Pegmatite August 21, 2024, and highlights it as a potential North American Lithium Raw Materials Powerhouse. The PEA outlines the potential for a competitive and globally significant high-grade lithium project targeting up to ~800 ktpa spodumene concentrate using a simple Dense Media Separation (“DMS) only process flowsheet.
For further information, please contact us at info@patriotbatterymetals.com or by calling +1 (604) 279-8709, or visit www.patriotbatterymetals.com. Please also refer to the Company’s continuous disclosure filings, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au, for available exploration data.
This news release has been approved by the Board of Directors.
“KEN BRINSDEN”
Kenneth Brinsden, President, CEO, & Managing Director
Olivier Caza-Lapointe
Head, Investor Relations – North America
T: +1 (514) 913-5264
E: ocazalapointe@patriotbatterymetals.com
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