A Financial and Scientific Analysis of Lithium-Rich Spodumene Bearing Pegmatites
Open Access
- Author:
- Mc Carthy, Sydney
- Area of Honors:
- Interdisciplinary in Finance and Geosciences
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Jesse R Reimink, Thesis Supervisor
Brian Spangler Davis, Thesis Honors Advisor
Peter J Heaney, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Lithium
Spodumene
Pegmatites
Germanium
Gallium - Abstract:
- The Ontario province of Canada contains spodumene bearing LCT pegmatites which have high levels of the highly sought after metal, lithium (Li). The Seymour project, owned by Green Technology Metals, is located near Thunder Bay within this province and contains immense amounts of these deposits. Through testing a spodumene sample from this depositional area, amounts of lithium, lithium oxide, lithium carbonate, iron, germanium, and gallium were all calculated. The spodumene in the entire deposit was 1.85 megatons (Mt) and consisted of 5.57% Li2O, which is a fundamental material in lithium extraction, processing, and conversion. If all this lithium oxide were to be successfully extracted, the estimated revenue would be nearly $600,000,000. Iron (Fe) content in the sample was minimal, meaning that this common impurity is not detrimental to the value of the lithium. The sample had low enough iron content that it would qualify for use in ceramics. Interestingly, after getting results from the LA-ICPMA, surprisingly high levels of germanium (Ge) and gallium (Ga) elements were discovered. Both these elements are commonly collected via being a by-product in elemental extraction processes. During lithium purification of this spodumene, these two products can be extracted utilizing a gravity separator or through froth flotation. Successful separation and collection of Ge and Ga would yield significant additional revenue.