Global Lithium Resources Limited (ASX: GL1), a multi-asset west Australian lithium company, has completed the first stage of ore sorting trials at its wholly-owned Manna Lithium project, 100km east of Kalgoorlie in western Australia.
The programme is part of the wider scope of work that will progress the definitive feasibility study (DFS) at the Manna Lithium Project towards completion by December 2023.
A 90% increase in the lithium grade was reported in the preliminary test work with a 93% reduction in iron from the mixed waste and pegmatite sample.
The test programme involved a sample from the Manna diamond core (MDD05) that was crushed to 32mm and screened to remove -10mm fines. The oversize product was processed through the ore sorting trial at the Steinert test facility in Bibra Lake, western Australia. The -10mm fines fraction will either be stockpiled for future processing or recombined with the ore sorter final product.
Ore sorting trial work is a critical step in improving the available tonnes of lithium pegmatite ore that can be economically mined at the Manna Lithium project. The ore sorting process allows larger areas containing multiple, thin lithium bearing pegmatites and waste ore that would typically exhibit a lower head grade to be economically mined. This will increase the minable tonnes for the deposit.
Tony Chamberlain, Global Lithium project director, commented, “The Manna Lithium project has the distinct advantage of having great visual control between ore, which is predominantly white in colour, and surrounding waste rock which appears dark grey to black. Initial ore sorting results have shown the technology is a perfect fit for Manna with this impressive upgrade in lithium content.”
To find out more, please visit www.globallithium.com.au