American Lithium Corp. (“American Lithium” or the “Company”)
(TSX-V:LI | NASDAQ:AMLI | Frankfurt:5LA1) is pleased to
announce results of on-going process work on TLC claystones aimed
at continued improvement and optimization of all phases of the
chemical process to produce lithium carbonate (“LC”). Optimization
work focused on leaching conditions and lithium recovery,
minimizing lithium losses during neutralization and magnesium
sulphate crystallization, and on increasing the LC purity in the
precipitation stage.
Highlights:
- LC
purity increased to 99.59% (up from 99.4%)
- Lower
leach temperature of 50°C (down from 90°C), with continued high
lithium extraction rates (95%);
-
Significant potential for lower acid
consumption;
-
Potential for lower lithium losses during impurity
removal;
- Further
optimization work continues to refine flow-sheet for PFS;
and
- Process
improvements expected to enhance project returns.
Simon Clarke, CEO of American Lithium
states, “We are very pleased with the latest optimization
work on the TLC flowsheet as we move through pre-feasibility. The
flowsheet continues to be refined with improvements and results
that should improve on the already robust US$3.28 Billion NPV for
the project highlighted in the Company’s maiden PEA. We are able to
make strong, rapid progress utilizing the expertise of TECMMINE in
Peru, ANSTO in Australia and DRA Global, our Lead Engineers to
drive TLC through the prefeasibility process. We also believe that
our focus on large-scale projects in Peru and Nevada, which can
produce high purity lithium products which do not need to be
shipped overseas for upgrading or refining, best meets the critical
need for secure supplies of battery metals in as fast a timeline as
possible.”
Sulfuric Acid Leaching and Lithium
Carbonate Precipitation Test Work - Details
Optimization bench scale test work has been
on-going on the TLC flowsheet at TECMMINE Laboratories in Lima,
Peru over the past several months since the TLC Preliminary
Economic Assessment (“PEA”) was published (refer to Company News
Release dated March 20, 2023). This work has been conducted under
the supervision of Chief Metallurgist, José Malqui, President of
TECMMINE, with technical input on test conditions from DRA Pacific.
Leach conditions have been optimized using sulfuric acid leaching
at 50°C achieving 95% lithium (“Li”) extraction in a 2-hour leach
cycle with 495 kg/t acid consumption. This lowers the leaching
temperature conditions from 90°C used in the PEA, with comparable
extraction. These leach parameters resulted in lower acid
consumption, which translates into lower limestone consumption
during the pre-neutralization phase and a reduction in lime
requirements during the neutralization stage.
Magnesium sulfate crystallization was improved
resulting in 68% total magnesium recovery and minimizing lithium
losses to 1.1% during this impurity removal phase.
The final lithium recovery through the entire
hydrometallurgical process achieved in this single test is 84.8%
(see Table 1. – Summary Lithium Metallurgical Results, Circuit
Simulation, below) with the highest lithium carbonate (“LC”) purity
achieved to date from TLC claystone processing test work.
A final calculated LC purity of 99.59% LCE was
attained through the new optimized leach process.
Table 1. – Summary Lithium Metallurgical Results, Circuit
Simulation |
|
Li Recovery, % |
Process |
of Feed to Process |
Cumulative |
Leaching |
95.0 |
95.0 |
Neutralization |
98.9 |
94.0 |
Evaporation / Crystallization |
91.2 |
85.7 |
Mg Removal - Sulfate |
98.9 |
84.8 |
Ca Removal and Li Recovery* |
100.0 |
84.8 |
* Lithium
contained in products that would be recycled during commercial
processing is considered recovered. |
Test conditions were as follows:
- 2 hour agitated
atmospheric leaching using sulfuric acid at 50°C followed by
filtration and residue washing achieved 95.0% lithium
extraction.
- Leach solution
was neutralized with limestone and lime to remove iron and
aluminum, followed by precipitate washing to recover entrained
solution; completed with 98.9% recovery of lithium to filtrate and
rinse solutions.
- Sulfate
crystallization by evaporation and cooling followed by treatment
with lime to remove remaining magnesium, with 91.2% lithium
recovery. This step is critical and will be further optimized to
minimize Li losses.
- Calcium removal
and lithium carbonate production by reaction with sodium carbonate.
All products (precipitates and solutions) from these steps would be
recycled in a commercial process, so no losses are expected, or
considered from these steps.
- Global lithium
recovery of 84.8%
- LC product was
sent to CIMM Laboratories in Lima for ICP-MS/ICP-OES multi-element
analysis. A calculated purity of 99.59% LC was achieved.
- All processing
steps were simulated by batch testing in open-cycle. Recycling of
products was not simulated. These results will be verified by
continuous and/or pilot testing with appropriate solution
recycling.
- Lithium
contained in products that would be recycled during commercial
processing was considered recovered.
Qualified PersonsJohn Joseph
Riordan, BSc, CEng, FAuslMM, MIChemE, RPEQ, of DRA Pacific (Pty)
Ltd., an Independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has
reviewed and approved the scientific and technical metallurgical
information contained in this news release.
Mr. Ted O’Connor, P.Geo., Executive Vice
President of American Lithium, a Qualified Person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical
information contained in this news release.
About American
LithiumAmerican Lithium is actively engaged in the
development of large-scale lithium projects within mining-friendly
jurisdictions throughout the Americas. The Company is currently
focused on the continued development of its strategically located
TLC Lithium Claystone Project in the richly mineralized Esmeralda
lithium district in Nevada, as well as continuing to advance its
Falchani Hard-rock Lithium Project and Macusani Uranium Project in
southeastern Peru. All three projects, TLC, Falchani and Macusani
have been through robust preliminary economic assessments, exhibit
strong expansion potential and enjoy strong community support.
Pre-feasibility work is well advanced at Falchani and has commenced
at TLC.
For more information, please contact the Company
at info@americanlithiumcorp.com or visit our website
at www.americanlithiumcorp.com for project update videos
and related background information.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and
LinkedIn.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
American Lithium Corp.
“Simon Clarke”CEO & DirectorTel: 604 428 6128
Inquiries:
Nancy ThompsonVorticom, Inc.212-532-2208
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward
Looking Information
This news release contains certain
forward-looking information and forward-looking statements
(collectively “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of
applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are
not limited to, statements regarding the ability to appeal the
judicial ruling, the anticipated completion of pre-feasibility
work, and any other statements regarding the business plans,
expectations and objectives of American Lithium. Forward-looking
statements are frequently identified by such words as "may",
"will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend",
“indicate”, “scheduled”, “target”, “goal”, “potential”, “subject”,
“efforts”, “option” and similar words, or the negative connotations
thereof, referring to future events and results.
Forward-looking statements in this press release
include, without limitation, statements relating to ongoing
optimization work for the TLC project; the potential to produce
battery grade lithium carbonate and / or hydroxide, the Company’s
ability to fund its activities and work programs with its
current capital and the Company’s business and strategic plans.
Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and
expectations of management and are not, and cannot be, a guarantee
of future results or events. Although American Lithium believes
that the current opinions and expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information
available at the time, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements since American Lithium can provide no
assurance that such opinions and expectations will prove to be
correct. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain
and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties,
including risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to: American
Lithium’s ability to achieve its stated goals, which could have a
material adverse impact on many aspects of American Lithium’s
businesses including but not limited to: the ability to access
mineral properties for indeterminate amounts of time, the health of
the employees or consultants resulting in delays or diminished
capacity, social or political instability in Peru which in turn
could impact American Lithium’s ability to maintain the continuity
of its business operating requirements, may result in the reduced
availability or failures of various local administration and
critical infrastructure, reduced demand for the American Lithium’s
potential products, availability of materials, global travel
restrictions, and the availability of insurance and the associated
costs; the judicial appeal process in Peru, and any and all future
remedies pursued by American Lithium and its subsidiary Macusani to
resolve the title for 32 of its concessions; the ongoing ability to
work cooperatively with stakeholders, including but not limited to
local communities and all levels of government; the potential for
delays in exploration or development activities; the interpretation
of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral
deposits; the possibility that any future exploration, development
or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations;
risks that permits will not be obtained as planned or delays in
obtaining permits; mining and development risks, including risks
related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes
(including work stoppages, strikes and loss of personnel) or other
unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and
development; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange
rate fluctuations; risks related to foreign operations; the
cyclical nature of the industry in which American Lithium operates;
risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely
basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental
approvals; risks related to environmental regulation and liability;
political and regulatory risks associated with mining and
exploration; risks related to the uncertain global economic
environment and the effects upon the global market generally, any
of which could continue to negatively affect global financial
markets, including the trading price of American Lithium’s shares
and could negatively affect American Lithium’s ability to raise
capital and may also result in additional and unknown risks or
liabilities to American Lithium. Other risks and uncertainties
related to prospects, properties and business strategy of American
Lithium are identified in the “Risk Factors” section of American
Lithium’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed on May 29,
2023, and in recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com.
Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements. American Lithium undertakes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required
by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements.
Cautionary Note Regarding Macusani
Concessions
Thirty-two of the 169 concessions held by
American Lithium’s subsidiary Macusani, are currently subject to
Administrative and Judicial processes (together, the “Processes”)
in Peru to overturn resolutions issued by INGEMMET and the Mining
Council of MINEM in February 2019 and July 2019, respectively,
which declared Macusani’s title to 32 of the concessions invalid
due to late receipt of the annual validity payments. In November
2019, Macusani applied for injunctive relief on 32 concessions in a
Court in Lima, Peru and was successful in obtaining such an
injunction on 17 of the concessions including three of the four
concessions included in the Macusani Uranium Project PEA. The grant
of the Precautionary Measure (Medida Cautelar) has restored the
title, rights and validity of those 17 concessions to Macusani
until a final decision is obtained at the last stage of the
judicial process. A Precautionary Measure application was made at
the same time for the remaining 15 concessions and was ultimately
granted by a Court in Lima, Peru on March 2, 2021 which has also
restored the title, rights and validity of those 15 remaining
concessions to Macusani, with the result being that all 32
concessions are now protected by Precautionary Measure (Medida
Cautelar) until a final decision on this matter is obtained at the
last stage of the judicial process. The favourable judge’s ruling
confirming title to all 32 concessions from November 3, 2021
represents the final stage of the current judicial process.
However, this ruling has recently been appealed by MINEM and
INGEMMET. American Lithium has no assurance that the outcome of
these appeals will be in the Company’s favour.
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