As lithium prices continue to rise, mining companies around the world are racing to find a supply of lithium to meet the growing demand that 2030 and ‘Green Energy’ will bring.
Argentina, already ranked fourth among the world’s top lithium producing nations, is making a push to speed up its development.
Origen Resources, of Canada, has entered into an agreement to obtain the prospective lithium-bearing Los Sapitos salt-flat in the north of San Juan province, Argentina.
The area, covering 26,962 hectares, runs along a comparatively unexplored tectonic corridor containing salt-flats, hot springs and geysers.
Chinese mining company Zijin Mining Group Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian Neo Lithium Corp and all of its assets in Argentina’s largest lithium producing area through a cash deal worth $770 million.
Lithium South Development Corporation is progressing its Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project in Salta.
Comprised of six non-contiguous claim blocks, the 3,287-hectare HMN Li Project already has a completed preliminary economic assessment on it, which was based upon a 5,000 tonne per year operation.
The southern claim group adjoins ground owned by Livent Corporation, which is currently producing lithium from the area.
On its second quarter earnings release, Livent highlighted its resumption of capacity expansion under development in Argentina.
In Canada
Frontier Lithium has successfully produced battery grade lithium lithium hydroxide monohydrate from its PAK deposit spodumene resource, part of the PAK Lithium Project in Ontario, Canada.
Frontier is conducting additional bench-scale testing of a third-party’s patented alkaline process route to produce lithium hydroxide from the company’s second Spark ‘open pitable’ resource.
New Age Metals announced that its maiden drill program on its Lithium Two Project that is part of its Manitoba lithium division has begun.
The Lithium Two Project covers 137 hectares north of the Tanco Mine that is owned and operated by Sinomine Rare Metals Co. To date, three pegmatites have been identified on the Lithium Two Project.
In the US
Compass Minerals announced the successful, third-party conversion testing of its Great Salt Lake lithium brine resource into both lithium carbonate and battery-grade lithium hydroxide, representing a milestone in its previously announced lithium development project.
Compass Minerals is targeting an annual production capacity of approximately 20,000 to 25,000 metric tons lithium carbonate equivalent of battery-grade lithium, with up to 65% of the future production derived from brine that has already been extracted from the Great Salt Lake.
Sienna Resources announced it has closed an option agreement to acquire the Blue Clay Lithium Project in Clayton Valley Nevada. This project consists of 94 contiguous claims totalling approximately 1950 acres prospective for lithium.
Jason Gigliotti, president of Sienna Resources, said: “Lithium prices have just traded to all-time highs this week and we look forward to getting to work as soon as possible on this drill ready prospect. Nevada has become one of the most sought after lithium addresses in the world.”
In Finland
Finnish mining and battery chemical company Keliber has been granted a mining safety permit to start sustainable production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, utilising its own ore.
Lithium ore production is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2024 and continue for about four years.
After that, mining will continue at the Rapasaari mine in the Päiväneva area, and the Syväjärvi mine will be rehabilitated in accordance with a separate plan and the provisions of the environmental permit.
