Global Geoscience Limited (ASX:GSC) Discovery of Searlesite Zone
15.11.2016 | ABN Newswire
Highlights
- Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mineralisation found to contain abundant searlesite, a silicate mineral.
- The high-grade Searlesite Zone
-- accounts for 97% of the high-grade component of the South Basin Resource1 - 65 million tonnes at 2.0% lithium carbonate equivalent grade and containing 650Kt of lithium carbonate, 5.9Mt boric acid and 1.4Mt of potassium sulphate
-- averages 20 metres thickness over the South Basin Resource area (1x1.8km)
-- outcrops and is open in three directions
-- is large enough to support a 20-year mining operation at a rate of 3Mt per annum
-- is leachable with dilute acid and has a low clay content
- The metallurgical team headed by Bertolli and Ehren is evaluating a simple process route involving crushing, screening and flotation followed by dilute acid leaching to liberate lithium and boron.
- The relatively simple process route is expected to compare favourably to other sources of lithium such as the capital intensive brines and opex intensive spodumene deposits.
- The markets for lithium and boron are strong both in the USA and globally, further enhancing the attractiveness of the Rhyolite Ridge Li-B project.
Global's Managing Director, Bernard Rowe commented: "This is a potential game changer for the Rhyolite Ridge project. The fact that the highest value mineralisation occurs in a part of the deposit that contains abundant, relatively coarse searlesite is very favourable for processing and significantly enhances the potential for low-cost production of lithium carbonate and boric acid."
Large Tonnage, High Grade
The Searlesite mineralisation is the highest value mineralisation within the South Basin Resource and constitutes 97% of the high-grade component. It occurs in the Upper Lens of the deposit and is open in three directions.
- 65 million tonnes at 1,900 ppm Li (1.0% Lithium Carbonate), 1.6% B (9.1% Boric Acid) and 1.0% K (2.2% Potassium Sulphate) (1.8% LCE cut-off)
- Lithium Carbonate Equivalent grade of 2.0%
- Containing 650Kt of lithium carbonate, 5.9Mt of boric acid and 1.4Mt of potassium sulphate
Open Pit Mining
The Searlesite zone in the Upper Lens is likely to be amenable to low-cost open pit mining. It averages approximately 20 metres in thickness and extends from surface to a depth of 250m. The zone is flat lying to gently dipping and outcrops along the western margin of the basin.
Low-Cost Processing
Due to its low-clay content and relatively coarse grain size, the searlesite mineralisation is likely to be readily treatable and upgradable. Clay and other acid consuming minerals are likely to be removed using low-cost methods including screening and flotation. The resultant concentrate could then be leached using dilute sulphuric acid, minimising acid consumption.
Acid Leachable
Previous test work has demonstrated that lithium and boron can be leached from the searlesite mineralisation using dilute sulphuric acid and high recoveries have been achieved. Acid consuming minerals such as calcite, dolomite and clay have a significant impact on the economics of acid leaching and hence it is important to remove as much of these minerals as possible prior to leaching.
Metallurgical Test Work
A program of metallurgical test work is underway with staged results expected over the next six to eight weeks. The test work includes:
1. Crushing and screening to determine if clay material can be separated without significant loss of Li and B
2. Flotation and other methods to determine if Li- and B-bearing minerals can be separated from gangue minerals including acid consuming minerals such as calcite and clays
3. Acid leaching of the Li-B concentrate to determine B/Li recoveries and acid consumption
Metallurgical Mapping at South Basin
The South Basin deposit at Rhyolite Ridge Project has a Resource of 393 million tonnes at 1,600ppm Li (0.9% Lithium Carbonate), 0.5% B (2.9% Boric Acid) and 0.76% K (1.7% Potassium Sulphate) totalling 1.2% Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) using a 0.6% LCE cut-off. Included in this are high-grade zones totalling 65 million tonnes at 1,900 ppm Li (1.0% Lithium Carbonate), 1.6% B (9.1% Boric Acid) and 1.0% K (2.2% Potassium Sulphate) totalling 2.0% Lithium Carbonate Equivalent estimated using a 1.8% LCE cut-off (Global Geoscience Ltd., 2016).
The deposit consists of at least two distinct types of mineralisation: "Clay" and "Searlesite" types. Clay-type mineralisation typically contains over 2000ppm lithium, less than 0.1% boron, is higher in calcium and magnesium, lower in silica, sodium and potassium and occurs in clay-rich sediments. Most of the mineral grains in the clay type are less than 20 microns (0.02mm) in diameter.
Searlesite-type mineralisation typically contains 1500-2000ppm lithium and greater than 1% boron, is higher in silica, sodium and potassium and lower in calcium and magnesium. Most of the mineral grains in the searlesite-type are greater than 100 microns (0.1mm).
The difference in chemistry is reflected in the mineralogy of the two types:
- Searlesite type - averages about 35% searlesite, 20% calcite, 15% sepiolite and 25% acid insoluble minerals including mainly silicates
- Clay-type - averages about 5% searlesite, 35% calcite, 25% sepiolite and 30% acid insoluble minerals including clays and other silicates
Searlesite is a B-Na bearing silicate mineral (NaBSi2O5(OH)2) containing up to 5% boron (by weight) and is the only acid soluble boron mineral identified to date at South Basin. It is therefore assumed that all boron at South Basin is probably contained within searlesite. Laser ablation measurements indicate that searlesite may also contain significant amounts of lithium in parts of the deposit. Searlesite grains are generally over 250 microns (0.25mm) in diameter.
Sepiolite is a Mg-bearing silicate which is also acid soluble. Laser ablation measurements indicates that sepiolite at Rhyolite Ridge contains significant lithium concentrations. Sepiolite grains are generally over 100 microns (0.1mm) in diameter.
The Upper Lens of the deposit hosts both types of mineralisation. An uppermost 10 to 20 metre thick Clay zone is underlain by a 15 to 30 metre thick Searlesite zone. The Searlesite zone within the Upper Lens accounts for 97% of the high-grade component of the Resource.
About Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project
The Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project (22km2) is located close to existing road and power infrastructure in southern Nevada. The project has potential as a strategic, long-life, low-cost and reliable source of lithium, boron and potassium. Two sedimentary basins (North and South) contain thick, shallow, flat-lying zones of lithium-boron-potassium mineralisation. The mineralisation is hosted within fine-grained, carbonate-rich sediments (marl). Global has the exclusive right to purchase 100% interest in the project from the owner, a private Nevada company.
To view the press release, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/4797RA09
About Global Geoscience Limited:
Global Geoscience Ltd. (ASX:GSC) is a Sydney-based mineral exploration company specialising in greenfield exploration and mineral discovery. The Company's main focus is for copper, gold and silver on its mostly 100%-owned projects in Nevada and Arizona in the United States, and Peru in South America.
Source:
Global Geoscience Ltd.
Contact:
Bernard Rowe Managing Director Global Geoscience Ltd. T: +61-2-9922-5800 E: browe@globalgeo.com.au Darien Jagger Executive Director Cygnet Capital Pty Limited T: +61-8-9226-5511 E: dj@cygnetcapital.com.au