eBusiness Weekly
Business Writer
Prospect Resources Ltd says it has secured long term lead equipment items that will allow the company to commence its pilot plant project at the Arcadia Lithium Mine in Zimbabwe.
The latest development will allow the miner to produce high-purity petalite and low-iron spodumene samples.
According to a statement issued by the company on Wednesday, the high purity flotation pilot plant, is now ready to operate.
The pilot plant will de-risk the flotation process, supply bulk samples of Prospect’s products to customers to obtain product qualification and maximise demand, as well as enhance technical elements of the project execution phase.
Additionally, the plant will supply samples to Uranium One Group so it can validate the product as it continues due diligence on Prospect and the Arcadia Lithium Mine.
“Our current key focus is to operate a pilot plant to replicate the Arcadia flowsheet to produce high purity petalite and spodumene. The pilot plant delivers a number of key objectives for customers, project finance parties and investors in de-risking the Arcadia project,” managing director Sam Hosack said.
“Prospect has unique geology at Arcadia allowing for production of high purity products that attract premium pricing from both the technical and chemical market.
‘‘The flotation process, together with the Arcadia project, offers an attractive solution for customers seeking long term, high quality and consistent supply.”
“The samples will be used for qualification processes with customers we are dealing with as well as to approach additional customers and grow market demand for Arcadia’s high purity products.”
The pilot plant’s design is based on German consultancy, ANZAPLAN’s, flotation test work. The size of the pilot plant was scaled up by the Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy using flotation technology solutions.
Further, ADP Marine and Modular performed a process design audit on the plant to confirm the process design, equipment selection and sizing which is based on the ANZAPLAN flotation solution.
Initially, the pilot plant will produce 500 tonnes of petalite and 120 tonnes of spodumene concentrates for customers to qualify and validate.
Prospect Resources plans to complete a front end engineering and design (FEED) study in the first half of next year. The study will determine the phases, scale of growth and capacity of the Zimbabwe-based project. Any modifications or improvements that are observed in the pilot phase will be included in the FEED study.
Last month, Prospect completed a US$6 million capital raise to develop the pilot plant. The company has allocated money to complete the FEED study.
Company shares are trading 11,1 percent higher for 11 cents in early afternoon trade.
