- Significantly improved purity of Battery Grade Lithium
Carbonate to 99.797% from 99.599%
- Quality and purity are already meeting worldwide premium
specifications and very close to CATL's high standards of product
quality
TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2021 /CNW/ - Neo Lithium Corp.
("Neo Lithium" or the "Company") (TSXV: NLC) (OTCQX:
NTTHF) (FSE: NE2) is pleased to announce that following the
COVID-19 pandemic closure of its lithium carbonate pilot plant in
Fiambalá (the "Plant"), work resumed in late Q4 2020, which has
resulted in battery grade lithium carbonate being produced using
concentrated brine from its wholly-owned Tres Quebradas lithium
project ("3Q Project") in Catamarca Province, Argentina.
The Plant produced lithium carbonate with a purity of
99.797%, representing the highest purity level attained thus
far while using the improved process (see press release dated
March 11, 2020 for more detailed
information). The improved process is expected to decrease
operational and capital costs while minimizing reagent, water and
power consumption.
The composition of impurities in the lithium carbonate are as
follows*:
SO4
|
Cl
|
Mg
|
K
|
Ca
|
Si
|
Na
|
Insoluble
|
Humidity
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
0.017
|
0.071
|
0.001
|
0.007
|
0.019
|
0.011
|
0.033
|
0.038
|
<0.10
|
*Other elements undetected.
"We continue optimizing the process in terms of quality and
reagent consumption," stated Waldo
Perez, President and CEO of Neo Lithium. "We are on path
to deliver a high-quality product and complete our DFS on time and
on budget with a new improved process"
The current lithium carbonate batch is the 13th batch
since the Plant started operation in May
2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has stored
approximately 50 tonnes of concentrated brine ready to be processed
at the Plant. The Company will continue to test batches to optimize
the process for the Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") before
turning the Plant into continuous mode in Q2/Q3 2021. On
continuous mode, the Plant can produce up to 40 tonnes a year.
The Process
Brine with average grade of 1000 mg/l was extracted from the
production wells located in the northern zone of the 3Q project and
then evaporated at the Company's 9 stage industrial pilot ponds. No
chemical reagents were added to the brine other than minor amounts
of hydrochloric acid (HCl) for pH control at the final stage of
evaporation. Total evaporation time was about 1 year and the brine
concentration was around 3% lithium. The concentrated brine was
then transported by truck to the pilot plant in Fiambalá, which is
located 160 km from the 3Q Project. The concentrated brine
was treated in the pilot plant with a solvent extraction phase
(SX-B) for Boron removal, as well as an scrub and strip phase in
order to regenerate the organic solution of SX-B process. For
magnesium removal was used liming addition which was produced in
situ from the calcium removal at alkaline pH and carbonation phase
to calcium polishing and any remaining Mg and heavy transition
metals. The lithium carbonate process is then completed with 3
stages of soda ash carbonation, washing and drying.
Technical Information
The samples collected were delivered by Company personnel to
Andesmar Transport Company ("Andesmar") in La Rioja, in the
province of Rioja. Andesmar delivered the samples by truck to ASL,
an ISO 9001-2008-certified laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina. ASL used the following analytical
methodologies: ICP-OES (inductively-coupled plasma-optical (atomic)
emission spectrometry) to quantify boron, barium, calcium, lithium,
magnesium, manganese, and potassium; an argentometric method to
assay for chloride; a gravimetric method to analyze for sulfate; a
volumetric analysis (acid/base titration) for the evaluation of
alkalinity (as CaCO3); a gravimetric method to determine density
and total dissolved solids; and, a laboratory pH meter to determine
pH. All analytical work is subject to a systematic and rigorous
Quality Assurance-Quality Control. A reference ("standard") sample
was inserted into the sample stream at a frequency of approximately
1 in 15 samples; a field blank was inserted at a frequency of
approximately 1 in 15 samples; and a field duplicate sample was
inserted at a frequency of approximately 1 in 15 samples.
Waldo Perez, Ph.D, P.Geo., the
CEO and President of Neo Lithium Corp. is the Qualified Person who
approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news
release.
About Neo Lithium Corp.
Neo Lithium Corp. has quickly become a prominent new name in
lithium brine development by virtue of its high quality 3Q Project
and experienced team. Neo Lithium is rapidly advancing its 100%
owned 3Q Project - a unique high-grade lithium brine lake and salar
complex in Latin America's
"Lithium Triangle".
The 3Q Project is located in the Catamarca Province, the largest
lithium producing area in Argentina covering approximately 35,000 ha
including a salar complex of approximately 16,000 ha.
Additional information regarding Neo Lithium Corp. is available
on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile and at its
website at www.neolithium.ca, including various pictures of ongoing
work at the project.
Neither 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 release. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no
way approved nor disapproved the contents of this press
release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements -
Certain information set forth in this news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Such statements include but are not
limited to, statements as to lithium brine grades at depth being
consistent with surface results, the potential for resource
expansion at depth, the potential of the northern salar sediments,
and deeper sediments, for hosting brine, the ability to proceed to
scoping studies quickly, proceeding with continued work for
additional economic studies the potential for production expansion
in the Company's assessment of the economic potential of the 3Q
Project, that test results are indicative of future results, and
the additional of additional independent directors. Generally,
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words
such as "plans", "expects" or "is expected", "scheduled",
"estimates" "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of
such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events
or results "can", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or
"will", occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof.
These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and
uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the
Company, which could cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from the
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such statements. These risks include, without limitation, risks
related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis
and on acceptable terms, political and regulatory risks associated
with mining and exploration activities, including environmental
regulation, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation
of drill and sample results, risks related to the uncertainty of
cost and time estimation and the potential for unexpected delays,
costs and expenses, risks related to metal price fluctuations, the
market for lithium products, competition for experienced directors
in the junior mineral exploration and development sector, and other
risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects,
properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's
disclosure record. Although the Company believes its expectations
are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements.
SOURCE Neo Lithium Corp.