NEWS PRODUCES BATTERY-GRADE LITHIUMNemaska's Whabouchi produces battery-grade Li2CO3
Nemaska Exploration Inc(C:NMX)
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Tuesday November 23 2010 - News Release
Mr. Guy Bourassa reports
NEMASKA EXPLORATION PRODUCES BATTERY-GRADE LITHIUM CARBONATE FROM WHABOUCHI
Nemaska Exploration Inc. has produced lithium carbonate (Li2CO3)grading 99.96 per cent from its spodumene concentrate at SGS MineralsServices (SGS) Lakefield laboratory. In July, 2010, SGS commencedmetallurgical testing using a one-tonne sample obtained from coredrilling across the Whabouchi pegmatite body. The first spodumeneconcentrate (see press release September 8, 2010 for results anddetails) was made this fall and from that concentrate, lithium carbonatewas produced. The results from the lithium carbonate samples confirmthat all specifications for trace elements are met and that this is apremium product, worth approximately $2.00/kg more than the standard99.5% grade at present market prices.
Gary Pearse, principal of Equapolar Consultants Limited, an independentfirm hired by Nemaska to oversee the metallurgical work and conduct ascoping study at Whabouchi commented, "The results for this laboratorytest are exceptional. It shows that there are no discernible technicalbarriers to making top quality battery-grade lithium carbonate fromNemaska ore using "off-the-shelf" techniques."
Following up on the laboratory work, Nemaska is planning to start pilotplant metallurgical testing of a 30 tonne sample in an effort tooptimize the processing techniques and create the most efficient andcost competitive method of producing lithium carbonate.
"Obviously, we are very satisfied with the results of this metallurgicaltest as a whole," commented Mr. Guy Bourassa, President and CEO. "Thisis an important milestone for the Company and a necessary step inmarketing our product to end users. We now look forward to completingthe Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for this project."
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