Rodinia Lithium Receives Preliminary Processing Results for Lithium Recovery at the Salar de Diablillos Project
11.10.2011 | Marketwired
![Rodinia Lithium Receives Preliminary Processing Results for Lithium Recovery at the Salar de Diablillos Project](https://www.goldseiten.de/media/goldseiten-news.jpg)
- Excellent Results With Average Recovery of Lithium of 65 Percent
- Relative to Lithium Carbonate Production, Co-Products of Potash (at A Rate of 13:1) and Boric Acid (at A Rate of 1:1) Are Expected to Be Harvested
- A Conventional Recovery Process That Will Employ A Combination of Solar Evaporation and Chemical Processing to Produce Lithium Carbonate
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 10/11/11 -- Rodinia Lithium Inc. ('Rodinia' or the 'Company') (TSX VENTURE: RM) (OTCQX: RDNAF) is pleased to announce that it has received a preliminary processing report for its Salar de Diablillos project ('Diablillos' or 'Salar') located in Salta Province, Argentina. The report is authored by Mr. Robert Cinq-Mars and describes a detailed process to recover lithium carbonate from the subterranean brines of Diablillos. The proposed lithium recovery process is a combination of solar evaporation steps, in-field brine treatment, co-product potash ('KCl') and boric acid recovery, and chemical processing to produce lithium carbonate. The process results in a high lithium recovery of 65% once the brine is saturated producing 131,200 tonnes of KCl sylvinite and 10,250 tonnes of boric acid for every 10,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate.
William Randall, President & CEO of Rodinia, commented 'This processing report demonstrates the high quality brines of the Diablillos aquifers, resulting in a clean and efficient process with excellent recoveries of lithium. The low impurity levels, in particular magnesium and sulphate, allow for the harvesting of potash as a high impact co-product. The brine quality also ensures that the processing requires conventional reagents at moderate levels, meaning that we will not need to source expensive and hard to find chemicals. I would like to thank Mr. Cinq-Mars for his hard work and expertise that has produced this low-cost method. The findings described in the report will be incorporated into our upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment.'
The process was designed from initial brine with an average composition of 580 mg/L lithium, 7200 mg/L potassium, and 520 mg/L boron. The initial magnesium to lithium and sulfate to lithium ratios were 3.4 and 14.8 respectively. The process contemplates a series of ponds from largest to smallest, where the largest is used to bring brine to saturation and is designed to be unlined, reducing the capital cost of pond construction. Brine extracted from the final pond will have a concentration of approximately 12% lithium chloride and will be transported to the treatment facility, where boric acid and lithium carbonate are produced.
The process was developed and designed by Mr. Robert Cinq-Mars. Mr. Cinq-Mars has a wealth of experience in process design and management. His work experience includes 20 years in the lithium industry. During his time with Lithium Corporation of America, subsequently purchased by FMC Corporation, Mr. Cinq-Mars was Manager of New Resources and Process Development. Mr. Cinq-Mars' work included process research and development of three routes to recover lithium from new reserves, physical evaporation studies in laboratory to support process design, and identification of alternate lithium resources in the world.
The Project is supervised by Ray Spanjers, Rodinia's Manager of Exploration. Mr. Spanjers is considered a qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this release. According to the Company's sampling protocol, sample size is to exceed 500 millilitres and be stored in clean, secure containers for transportation. The prepared samples are then forwarded to the ALS Laboratory Group, Environmental Division, in Fort Collins, Co (USA) for analysis. A rigorous QA/QC program is implemented consisting of regular insertion of standards and blanks to ensure laboratory integrity.
About Rodinia Lithium Inc.:
Rodinia Lithium Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company with a primary focus on Lithium exploration and development in North and South America. The Company is also actively exploring the commercialization of a significant Potash co-product that is expected to be recoverable through the lithium harvesting process.
Rodinia's Salar de Diablillos lithium-brine project in Salta, Argentina, contains a recoverable resource of 2.82 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent and 11.27 million tonnes potassium chloride equivalent. The project contains a recoverable inferred resource of 952,553,000 m3 grading 556 mg/L lithium and 6,206 mg/L potassium. Throughout 2011, Rodinia will focus on continuing to develop the Diablillos project by completing additional drilling and advancing through scoping study.
The Company also holds 100% mineral rights to approximately 70,000 acres in Nevada's lithium-rich Clayton Valley in Esmeralda County, and is currently in the process of assessing the size, quality and processing alternatives of this deposit. The Clayton Valley project is located in the only known lithium-brine bearing salt lake in North America, and looks to represent the only new source for domestic lithium carbonate supply.
The Projects are supervised by Ray Spanjers, Rodinia's Manager of Exploration. Mr. Spanjers is considered a Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Please visit the Company's web site at www.rodinialithium.com or write us at info@rodinialithium.com.
Cautionary Notes
Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as 'plans', 'proposes', 'estimates', 'intends', 'expects', 'believes', 'may', 'will' and include without limitation, statements regarding the impact of the drill program at the Diablillos property and results of such drill program; the potential of the Diablillos property; anticipated timing with respect to the completion of a preliminary economic assessment, the potential results and timetable for further exploration with respect to the Clayton Valley project and the Diablillos property, the timetable with respect to future acquisitions and exploration developments at Clayton Valley and Diablillos, timetable for further exploration, analysis and development, title disputes or claims; and governmental approvals and regulation. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, financing risks, acquisition risks, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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 RELEASE.
Contacts:
Investor Cubed Inc.
Investor Relations
+1 (647) 258-3311
Aaron Wolfe
Vice-President, Corporate Development
+1 (416) 309-2696
www.rodinialithium.com