Arcadia Minerals has reported a 500% increase in the lithium resource at Bitterwasser lithium-in-clay project, in Namibia.
A Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant mineral resource estimate of 85.2-million tonnes, at 633 parts per million, for 286 909 t of lithium carbonate equivalent has been reported at the Eden Pan deposit.
This was a near 560% increase over the previous resource estimate and a 430% increase in metal content.
“We’re encouraged by the significant increase in metal content at the Bitterwasser lithium-in-clay project, which is now equivalent to a 1% lithium oxide hard rock resource of 11.6-million tonnes. This resource is within the first 12 m from surface, open at depth and covers only one of the known 14 exposed clay pans in the area, so these factors, along with the potential for further pans obscured by mobile Kalahari dunes, have the potential to expand the Bitterwasser lithium resource substantially,” said Arcadia CEO Philip le Roux.
“In addition, the recently announced Cyclone test work and early tests around leachability of the ore using environmentally friendly and low-cost lixiviants suggests the potential of feeding a comparatively competitive leach-plant with higher grade material. This will now be investigated through our association with the University of Stellenbosch in producing a bench-scale lithium carbonate product for battery grade use.”
Mining Weekly