LITHIUM EXTRACTION INTRODUCTION Liberation data are very important because they indicate the potential FROM SPODUMENE Lithium is found in very low concentration recovery of a mineral of interest (e.g., in igneous rocks. The largest SGS Minerals Services has experience spodumene and mica). Association data concentrations of lithium-containing with complete flowsheet development illustrate the potential impurities in a minerals are found in granitic pegmatites. to recover high grade lithium products concentrate or product. The liberation and The most important of these minerals from hard rock lithium minerals. SGS association for each sample are calculated are spodumene (Li2O, Al2O3. 4SiO2 ) and offers a multi-disciplinary team that is for each size fraction of the entire sample petalite (Li2O, Al2O3. 8SiO2 ). Spodumene involved from the initial stages of the based on the modal analysis of each has a theoretical Li2O content of characterization of the lithium deposit to fraction. Normally liberation increases 8.03%. Due to its high lithium content, the production of a market sample of a from the coarse to the fine fraction. spodumene is considered the most high grade lithium product. Metallurgical results show that a high important lithium ore mineral. A typical grade lithium concentrate (>7%) can be SGS provides the comprehensive range run of mine ore can contain 1-2% Li2O, achieved. of testwork capabilities required to extract while a typical spodumene concentrate lithium. These capabilities include: suitable for lithium carbonate production contains 6-7% Li2O (75% - 87% GRINDABILITY TESTS •• Comprehensive high definition spodumene). Higher grade concentrates SGS supports the minerals and chemical mineralogy with 7.6% Li2O and low iron content are industries in the design and operation of •• Extensive grindability test suite used in ceramics and more demanding efficient crushing and grinding circuits •• Mineral separation (gravity, heavy industries. using both power and model-based liquid and heavy media) •• Flotation methods. We can design bankable •• Pyrometallury (concentrate roasting MINERALOGICAL ANALYSIS OF A T YPICAL circuits and provide operating advice to and acid roasting) PEGMATITE DEPOSIT maximize milling efficiency, considering •• Hydrometallurgy both steel and power consumption. A typical pegmatite deposit can contain •• Pilot plant testing Our practical experience also ensures quartz, sodium-feldspar, spodumene, •• Environmental testing. that we recommend effective circuit lepidolite, petalite, lithiophilite, microcline, configurations that offer ease of operation and variable amounts of muscovite and maximum flexibility. (1-5%). One can also find trace amounts of Ta-Nb phases, commonly columbite, SGS performs the following grindability tantalite, and other accessory phases tests: such as spessartine, biotite, pollucite, •• SPI test amphibole and other minerals (Fe-Ti •• SMC test oxides, tourmaline, chlorite, apatite) •• Bond Ball Mill Grindability Test (Grammatikopoulos et al., 2009). •• Bond Impact Test SGS experts in High Definition Mineralogy •• Abrasion Test use the QEMSCAN ® to identify and map •• JK Drop-Weight Test textural features of coarsely crushed •• MacPherson Autogenous Grindability samples. A typical assemblage includes Test sodium feldspar, microcline, spodumene •• MacPherson 18” Mill Test. and minor muscovite. False-coloured Well-instrumented pilot-scale autogenous images provide textural information on the grinding circuits, ball and rod mill circuits, occurrence of spodumene and associated and crushing circuits also facilitate testing minerals. and circuit design. After production starts, in-plant audits allow modeling and simulation to optimize existing plants.
bullet and heavy media separation. CONCENTRATE ROASTING
Gravity separation is feasible only if AND ACID ROASTING the spodumene is coarsely grained. Lithium can be extracted from SGS delivers on all physical separation spodumene concentrates after techniques, both at the laboratory scale roasting and acid roasting operations. and pilot plant scale. Depending on your A concentrate with at least 6% Li2O objective, the flotation concentrate can (approximately 75% spodumene) then be further processed by high- is suitable for roasting. Roasting is temperature techniques (pyrometallurgy) performed at about 1050°C, during which or chemical techniques (hydrometallurgy) spodumene will go through a phase to produce lithium carbonate or other transformation from α-spodumene to desirable lithium compounds. β-spodumene. The α-spodumene is virtually refractory to hot acids. FLOTATION As a result of the phase transformation, Flotation is used to generate a high grade the spodumene crystal structure expands spodumene concentrate (75-85% by about 30% and becomes amenable spodumene) suitable for lithium to hot sulphuric acid attack. Due to this extraction. expansion, the specific gravity of the False-coloured image of a crushed spodu- SGS’ expertise in flotation ensures you spodumene decreases from 3.1 g/cm3 mene pegmatite sample can: (natural α-spodumene) to around 2.4 g/ •• Generate a high grade concentrate cm3 (β-spodumene). MINERAL SEPARATION with high lithium recovery suitable After roasting, the material is cooled and Separation of lithium minerals can be for downstream roasting and then mixed with sulphuric acid (95-97%). efficiently achieved by taking advantage hydrometallurgy The mixture is roasted again at about of their physical, electrical and magnetic •• Maximize recovery 200°C. An exothermic reaction starts properties. Physical separations are •• Minimize acid-consuming at 170°C and lithium is extracted from performed by wet and dry screening, contaminants β-spodumene to form lithium sulphate, tabling and magnetic, electromagnetic, •• Minimize the cost of roasting. which is soluble in water. electrostatic, magnetohydrostatic
Petalite After Crushing Spodumene Flotation
Spodumene Concentrate Roasted Concentrate After Acid Roasted Concentrate
SGS MINERALS SERVICES – SGS T3 1001 3
HYDROMETALLURGY PILOT PLANT TESTING RECENT PUBLICATIONS
help you meet these ongoing challenges: •• Acid rock drainage testing •• Water treatment services •• Laboratory testing •• On-site laboratories •• Mine site reclamation and closure A sample of high grade lithium carbonate planning •• Health & safety audits