RE:I love the strategy to process surface sediment lithiumI have been doing some more DD with regards to Claystone Lithium extraction...University of BC is working on a Xray Diffraction method - CYP is using them as mentioned back in May nr - but nothing back on its success - however, CYP is also using ALS Chemex for its bench testing - standard 4 acid leach avg 1334ppm, diluted acid leach attained 95% of the 4 acid leach 1276ppm and is much more environmentally friendly than the caustic 4 acid method. In addition, Chemex is attempting a dionized water leach but it is only met with 35% extraction success thus far.
The USGS has reported since the mid 80's that they know how to extract lithium from claystones just not in an economic fashion - July 1987 (usgs bulletin #691)- 80-85% extraction using a Limestone Gypsum roasting method at a cost of $2.02/lb Li2CO3...however Li was only $1.50/lb - times have changed!!!
CYP is due for some news from UBC and further news from its Chemex labs as well. but CYP is focusing on Brines (deal with Pure Energy) at the same time as claystones unlike NRM where the focus is on the claystones first...good indicator that MDS method is working well and can be brought to full commercial viability in the near term/ should see some actual #'s soon from NRM on the MDS process...lets hope NRM gets some great assay results from the drill campaign that are inline with CYP's results. ////Go NRM////KF12