Frontier Lithium Announces Excellent PFS-level Metallurgical Results Producing Spodumene Concentrate from the Spark Deposit
SUDBURY, ON, Jan. 11, 2022 /CNW/ - Frontier Lithium Inc. (TSXV: FL) (OTCQX: LITOF) (FSE: HL2) ("Frontier" or the "Company") is pleased to report metallurgical results from the Company's 100% owned PAK Lithium Project (the "Project") in the Red Lake Mining District, Northwestern Ontario. Locked Cycle Test (LCT) flotation work was performed ahead of conducting a pilot plant campaign that will commence in the coming weeks with a representative 7 tonne bulk sample from the Spark deposit. The testwork was undertaken by a reputable third-party lab, based in Ontario, Canada.
The comprehensive program returned favourable results, confirming the suitability and robustness of the flowsheet design. Locked cycle flotation produced a lithium concentrate with grade of 6.15% lithium oxide (Li2O) with a corresponding Li recovery of 78.1 %. The test involved six cycles and was very stable indicating good metallurgy. The sample included approximate zonation variability of the resource with dilution at the average Spark resource grade of 1.59% lithium oxide (Li2O) and final iron oxide levels of 0.44% Fe2O3. These results confirm the suitability of the material to meet the most rigorous specifications of the lithium market. The LCT results are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Results of Locked Cycle Flotation Test Results (Composite Sample) | |||||||
Sample | Feed | Concentrate | Fe2O3 (%) | Na2O (%) | K2O (%) | CaO+ | P2O5 (%) |
Frontier – Spark Pegmatite Composite Sample | 1.59 | 6.15 | 0.44 | 0.61 | 0.27 | 0.65 | 0.27 |
Frontier – PAK Pegmatite Composite Sample(1) | 2.06 | 7.2 | 0.135 | 0.16 | 0.30 | N/A | 0.05 |
Australian Producer | N/A | 6.10 | 0.61 | 0.80 | 0.76 | 0.79 | 0.30 |
North American Project | 1.11 | 6.35 | 0.93 | 0.63 | 0.49 | 0.96 | 0.32 |
The metallurgical results from the PAK and Spark deposits give us confidence in continuing our work on the pilot plant that will process a combined sample of PAK and Spark ore and is expected to produce 1,000 kg of concentrate to be used for the development of the downstream lithium hydroxide conversion process.
"Frontier is currently conducting a Pre-Feasibility Study, and the positive LCT results are another important step in de-risking the Project. These results meet and exceed chemical grade requirements for further upgrading to produce compounds for the lithium-ion battery market – a global market that is anxious to source sustainable, low-iron, high purity lithium materials from a favourable jurisdiction," said Dr. Naizhen Cao, Vice President, Technology of Frontier Lithium.
Due diligence
Mr. Garth Drever, P.Geo., is the "Qualified Person" for Frontier defined under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.
About Frontier Lithium Inc.
Frontier Lithium is a preproduction business that is targeting to become a manufacturer of battery-quality lithium hydroxide to support electric vehicle and battery supply chains in North America. Frontier owns the PAK Lithium Project which contains one of North America's highest-grade, large-tonnage hard-rock lithium resources in the form of a rare low-iron spodumene. The project continues to have significant exploration upside with potential to increase the lithium resource. The Company is a pure-play lithium development opportunity with the largest land position in the Electric Avenue, a premium lithium mineral district located in Northern Ontario.
About PAK Lithium Project
The PAK Lithium Project contains a tier one lithium resource in North America and is one of the global top three premium resources by quality. A 2021 preliminary economic assessment (National Instrument 43-101 technical report titled "Pak Property" by BBA Engineering Ltd., issued on April 5, 2021) delivered a fully integrated lithium operation from the resource to achieve downstream conversion plan for production of battery-quality lithium chemicals. The study resulted in an after-tax net present value (discounted at 8 per cent) of $974-million (U.S.) with a 21-per-cent internal rate of return. The Project encompasses 26,774 hectares at the south end of Ontario's Electric Avenue, the largest land package hosting premium lithium-bearing pegmatites in Ontario. The Project is supported by a measured and indicated resource of 10.49 million tonnes (Mt) averaging 1.78 per cent lithium oxide (Li2O) and inferred resource of 18.48 Mt averaging 1.45 per cent Li2O.The Project covers 65 kilometres of the Electric Avenue's length and remains largely unexplored; however, since 2013, the company has delineated two premium spodumene-bearing lithium deposits (PAK and Spark), located 2.3 kilometres apart. Considerable exploration upside is supported on the PAK Lithium Project through two other spodumene-bearing discoveries: the Bolt pegmatite (located between the PAK and Spark deposits), as well as the Pennock pegmatite (30 kilometres northwest of PAK Deposit within the project claims).
Forward Looking Statements
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. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's registered filings available at sedar.com.
SOURCE Frontier Lithium Inc.
Bora Ugurgel, Manager, Investor Relations, 2736 Belisle Drive Val Caron, ON. P3N 1B3 CANADA, T. +001 705.897.7622, F. +001 705.897.7618
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