Piedmont Lithium launches spodumene concentrator pilot test program for flagship US project

Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL) (NASDAQ:PLL) will partner with SGS Canada Inc to complete a pilot-scale spodumene concentrator test-work program using a bulk sample collected from the Piedmont Lithium Project in North Carolina.

The company collected a bulk sample of more than 50 tonnes of mineralised pegmatite from 17 locations across its Core Property.

SGS will complete dense medium and flotation pilot work over coming weeks with the concentrate produced to be used in internal and third-party lithium hydroxide pilot programs.

“Pilot program underpins DFS”

Piedmont president and chief executive officer Keith Phillips said: “We are pleased to continue our partnership with SGS Canada on this important pilot-scale test-work program, which will underpin our upcoming definitive feasibility study as well as future detailed design engineering of our spodumene concentrator.

“The program will enable Piedmont to complete future lithium hydroxide test-work programs and also supply large samples of spodumene concentrate to our key customer, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), for their own testing purposes.”

Bulk sampling locations on the company’s Core Property. 

Testing variable feed conditions

Bulk samples included low-grade zones and diluted feed to help inform engineering design and eliminate potential operational bottlenecks during the project design phase.

The pilot program itself will target production of a large sample of spodumene concentrate with at least 6.0% lithium oxide and less than 1% iron oxide for use in future pilot-scale lithium hydroxide test-work programs as part of the DFS.

Piedmont Lithium views the pilot-scale test work as a critical step in ensuring future commissioning and ramp-up success.

Story by ProactiveInvestors