Premier African Minerals discovers more lithium rich ore

PREMIER African Minerals, which is developing the Zulu Lithium and tantalum project in Insiza District, Matabeleland South Province, says latest assay results have shown heavy presence of spodumene.

Spodumene is a lithium bearing rock that is a commercially important source of the base metal.

In its latest update, the United Kingdom-based mining group, said the results include both surface trenches and drill holes located within the area of the mineral claims block, but outside of the existing mining operations and pit development.

Premier chief executive officer, George Roach, was quoted as saying: “Those surface trench and drill hole results originating from the Southeast pegmatite, represent very good potential for this pegmatite that is adjacent but discrete from the main mining and pit developments underway at present.

“More important is that geological logging indicates that the lithium mineralisation in this pegmatite is almost exclusively spodumene.”

He said for reference purposes, a grade of 1 percent lithium oxide (Li2O) when the mineralisation is all spodumene, is the equivalent of 12,5 percent of the ore body being made up of the mineral spodumene.

“Test work in our laboratory at Zulu has consistently confirmed that Zulu is able to produce SC6 (spodumene concentrate 6) at acceptable grades from a contained spodumene content in the ore body as low as 4 percent representing a potential economic cut-off grade as low as 0.37 percent Li2O when the contained mineral is spodumene.

“By way of general update, civils associated with the thickener and new mill installation are substantially complete and first materials are now at site with further loads on route,” said Roach, adding that the new mill is expected to be the last component to be positioned at Zulu late this month with anticipated restart of operations as early in February as possible.

He said the group’s board believes that as previously reported, Premier is still on track to target revenue generating production by late-next month.

The revenue generation production target follows the installation of a 55 tonnes per hour ball mill and other ancillary structures expected to be completed in January or early February.

“Mining operations are now well developed, and we anticipate no issues associated with ore delivery to Run of Mine pad in future.

“Whilst mining operations are a major cash cost at present, the future benefit when operations are underway at much reduced stripping ratios will more than offset this cost in the future,” said Roach.-ebusinessweekly