American Lithium Reports Lithium Recoveries Greater Than 90% In Ten Minutes from TLC Lithium Project Samples
American Lithium Corp. Suite 1507-1030 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2Y3
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American Lithium Reports Lithium Recoveries Greater Than 90%
In Ten Minutes from TLC Lithium Project Samples
Vancouver, B C, May 7, 2020 – American Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LI) (OTCQB: LIACF)
(Frankfurt: 5LA1) (“American Lithium” or the “Company”) a leading lithium exploration and
development operator is pleased to report highly encouraging results from ongoing metallurgical
testing regarding recovery of lithium from composite samples of reverse circulation drill cuttings
from the Company's wholly owned TLC Lithium Claystone discovery near Tonopah, Nevada.
Testing conducted by McClelland Laboratories of Sparks, Nevada, demonstrates that lithium
recoveries exceeding 90% are achieved in 10 minutes with sulfuric acid leaching. Drill cuttings
were subjected to several extraction methods including: agitated leach, acid curing and counter -
current agitated leach. In combination with the process evaluation, leach solution temperature was
investigated. In general, TLC lithium claystone is consistently highly leachable throughout the
project with leach times comparing very favourably with other claystone projects.
Highlights:
• Greater than 90% l ithium recoveries achieved by sulfuric acid leaching of TLC
mineralized samples;
• At a moderate 60°C leaching temperature, lithium extraction from mineralized
material was complete in 30 minutes , with approximately 90% extracted within 10
minutes;
• Lithium extractions approaching 90% were also demonstrated with an ambient
temperature acid curing process;
• A counter-current leaching test demonstrated that mineralized material can be used
to neutralize the sulfuric acid leaching solution, removing iron and aluminum
(impurities) from solution and minimizing the requirement for alkaline reagents.
Since mid-2018, American Lithium has advanced TLC through reverse circulation, rotary and core
drilling to establish high -grade lithium over an area of several square miles. In addition to the
drilling and subsequent assay analysis, metallurgical and proce ss testing has been completed.
Stantec Consulting Ltd. has been engaged to complete a maiden resource lithium resource estimate
for the TLC project (see Company news release dated April 15, 2020). The Company expects to
release the results of this work and a technical report thereon, shortly. This early metallurgical
work, coupled with information and recommendations from Stantec's work, will form the basis of
continued development at TLC.
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Michael Kobler, CEO of American Lithium, states "Our excitement with TLC continues to build
as the project gets further derisked at every stage. Very few sedimentary lithium deposits are like
TLC. With high recovery rates , no deleterious elements, minimal overburden and a location
minutes from major infrastructure, TLC is well positioned to be at the forefront of future lithium
development."
Testing protocols and methodology for TLC lithium claystones were as follows:
Agitated Leaching
Laboratory-scale agitation leach tests were conducted on a composite sample of reverse circulation
drill cuttings from the TLC project (composite grade: 1,120 ppm Li). Sulfuric a cid addition and
slurry temperature were varied for a series of 6 tests. Results showed that at leaching temperatures
of 60° and 80°C, lithium extractions of 92.1% and 94.2% were achieved in just 30 minutes of
leaching. Under these conditions, sulfuric acid additions equivalent to 500 kg/tonne were required
(See Figure 1).
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Li Extraction, % of Total
Leach Time, min
Figure 1. - Lithium Leach Rate Profiles, Agitated Leach Tests, Approximate -
1.7mm Feed Size
40° , 500 kg/mt 40° , 300 kg/mt 80° , 500 kg/mt
80° , 300 kg/mt 60° , 500 kg/mt 60° , 300 kg/mt
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Acid Cure Testing
Sulfuric acid cure tests were conducted on composite samples of assay pulp material from five
different drill holes on the TLC project (composite grades: 1,060 to 1,270 ppm Li). For each of
these tests, a 0.5 kg sample was agglomerated with water and concentrated sulfuric acid. The
agglomerates were cured for 24 hours before being slurried in water (and agitated for
approximately 5 minutes), filtered, and washed to recover dissolved lithium. Curing and washing
were both done at ambient temperature. Lithium extractions of 80.9% to 88.5% were achieved
by following these procedures, with an agglomeration sulfuric acid addition of 500 kg/tonne (see
Figure 2).
Counter-Current Agitated Leach Test
A counter-current locked-cycle agitated leach test was conducted on a composite sample from
drill hole TLC-1917 that had been pulverized to approximately -106µm (composite grade: 1,320
ppm Li). This test consisted of multiple stages of agitated sulfuric acid leaching for 30 minutes at
60°C. Following each stage of leaching, slurry was filtered to separate pregnant leach solution
(PLS) from solids. The PLS was contacted with additional sample material, and the solids were
re-leached or washed. This was done in multiple locked-cycles to simulate a 2-stage counter-
current leach circuit with one stage of leaching, and one stage of pre-leaching/solution
neutralization as illustrated below. Results showed that a neutralized PLS could be produced in a
two-stage counter-current leach without the use of alkaline reagents (e.g. lime). Results also
showed that neutralizing the stage 2 leach solution by contacting it with un-leached material was
effective for removing iron and aluminum impurities from the leach solution before further
processing for lithium recovery. A high agitated leach lithium extraction (98.0%) was achieved
with a sulfuric acid addition of 600 kg/tonne. Additional testing would be required to optimize
the acid addition for this process and to evaluate further processing of the lithium-bearing leach
solution (See Figure 3).
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TLC-1901 TLC-1917 TLC-1918 TLC-1919 TLC-1921
Li Extraction, % of Total
Composite
Figure 2. - Acid Cure Test Lithium Extractions, TLC Composite Samples,
Approximate -106µm Feed Size
500 kgAcid/tonne Solids 600 kgAcid/tonne Solids
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Figure 3. – Potential Counter-Current Leach Process
Please watch our corporate video at https://www.americanlithiumcorp.com/our-company/ and
review our informative short project update videos and related background information at
https://www.americanlithiumcorp.com/projects/tlc-nevada/.
About the TLC Discovery
The TLC sedimentary lithium discovery is an exploration and development project located 12
kilometres northwest of Tonopah, Nev., and easily accessible by paved highway. The fieldwork to
date indicates a near -surface, relatively flat -lying, free digging lithium sedimentary region that
offers the potential of hosting a wide area of high- grade lithium mineralization. T he company
expects to deliver a maiden resource estimate and early stage economic study in 2020. Just south
of the Crescent Dunes solar energy plant, the project is favourably located for future production
given the immediate access to some of the cheapest electricity in Nevada.
About American Lithium Corp.
American Lithium is actively engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of lithium
deposits within mining-friendly jurisdictions throughout the Americas. The company is currently
exploring and developing the TLC project located in the highly prospective Esmeralda lithium
district in Nevada. TLC is close to infrastructure, 3.5 hours south of the Tesla Gigafactory, and in
the same basinal environment as Albemarle's Silver Peak lithium mine and several advancing
deposits and resources, including Ioneer Ltd.'s (formerly Global Geoscience) Rhyolite Ridge and
Cypress Development Corp.'s Clayton Valley project.
The technical information within this news release has been reviewed and approved by Bruce
Kienlen, P.Geo., a consultant to the Company and a qualified person under National Instrument
43-101. The metallurgical testing information reported herein was revie wed by Jared Olson,
Metallurgist and VP Operations McClelland Labs, a qualified person under National Instrument
43-101.
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For more information, please contact the Company at [email protected] or visit our
website at www.americanlithiumcorp.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
On behalf of the Board,
American Lithium Corp.
Michael Kobler, Chief Executive Officer
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is def ined in
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Forward-looking statements
Statements in this release that are forward- looking information are subject to various risks and
uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here. Information provided in this release
is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. All such
forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made
by American Lithium management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends,
current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management
believes are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements, however, are subject to a variety
of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ
materially from those projected in the forward- looking information or statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward- looking statements include
those described under the heading “Risks Factors” in American Lithium's most recently filed
MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise
the forward- looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.