The Benefits of Testing in Lithium Exploration and Extraction

Global lithium production increased by about 40% during 2023 compared to 2022. Lithium production in 2023 was close to 1 million MT. Contrary to the increase in the production, the prices of lithium products soared by 100% during the same period. lithium exploration and mineral beneficiation activity is ramped up to meet the sudden surge in the lithium demand.

Lithium characterization based on levels of Li20 and its associated elements like SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, K2O, Rb2O, P2O5, Nb, Ta and other minor, trace and rare earth elements. This can be achieved using techniques such as ICP OES and ICP MS, followed by mineralogy. The exact estimate of lithium content plays a key role as the levels of lithium in these minerals is low and beneficiation and extraction process are very cost intensive. Consequently, using XRD techniques can play a major role in planning the Lithium beneficiating and extraction process.

The lithium is extracted from the following 3 major sources:

1. Underground Lithium Containing Brine Reservoirs (Global Production ∼64%).
2. Lithium Bearing Clays ( lepidolite (polylithionite, trilithionite), zinnwaldite, masutomilite swinefordite, hectorite, cookeite and jadarite); Lepidolite and zinnwaldite have Li2O levels of 1.2–5.9% and 2–3%, respectively. (Global Production ∼7%).
3. Mica Schist (Lepidolite) & Pegmatite Rock Formations (spodumene (5.8–8.1% Li2O) (Global Production ∼29%).

Occurrence of the Lithium rich Brine Reservoirs and Lithium Bearing Clays is limited to certain geological regions. Hence, hard rock pegmatite formations are targeted globally as part of the lithium exploration projects.

The following 5 mineral phases are more focused as viable sources for the lithium extraction:

1. Spodumene [LiAlSi2O6]: a pyroxene mineral that typically contains between 5% and 6% lithium oxide (Li2O) and is the primary source of lithium in hard rock mining operations.
2. Petalite [LiAlSi4O10]: a lithium aluminum silicate mineral that contains between 3% and 4% lithium oxide and is found in granitic pegmatites.
3. Lepidolite [K(Li,Al,Rb)2(Al,Si)4O10(F,OH)2]: a lithium mica mineral that typically contains between 3% and 4% lithium oxide and is found in granite pegmatites and some lithium-rich granites.
4. Amblygonite [(Li,Na)AlPO4(F,OH)]: a phosphate mineral that typically contains between 4% and 6% lithium oxide and is found in pegmatites.
5. Jadarite [LiNaSiB3O7OH]: a borosilicate mineral discovered in 2007 in Serbia that contains high concentrations of lithium and boron. A sodium-lithium-borate-hydrate mineral that was recently discovered in Serbia and is currently being evaluated as a potential new source of lithium.

The extraction process for Li from mineral forms like spodumene, lepidolite, petalite and zinnwaldite is well established. Of the approximately 140 known minerals containing lithium, only 4, that is, Lepidolite (KLi1.5Al1.5[Si3O10][F,OH]2), Spodumene (LiO2·Al2O3·4SiO2), Petalite (LiO2·Al2O3·8SiO2) and Amblygonite (LiAl[PO4][OH,F]) are known to occur in quantities sufficient for commercial interest as well as industrial importance.

Shiva Analyticals has been supporting the Geological Exploration, Mining and Trade for the last 3 decades in the sample preparation and testing of ores and minerals for the customers from India, Africa, Middle East and Australia. The ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 accredited facility of Shiva Analyticals has been supporting the Lithium exploration fraternity in terms of very precise and quick estimation of Lithium and other associated elements and also providing the support on XRD investigation for the type of the mineralogy of the Lithium resource.

To learn more about Lithium exploration and testing, please contact us.