LIFT reports laboratory metallurgical recoveries averaging 79% producing a high-quality spodumene concentrate grading 5.83% Li2O at the Yellowknife Lithium Project
LIFT reports laboratory metallurgical recoveries averaging 79% producing a
high-quality spodumene concentrate grading 5.83% Li2O at the Yellowknife
Lithium Project
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 23, 2024 -- Li-FT Power Ltd. (“ LIFT” or the “ Company”) (TSXV: LIFT ) ( OTCQX:
LIFFF) (Frankfurt: WS0) is pleased to report results from the metallurgical sampling program completed in 2023 and 2024
across eight spodumene deposits within the Yellowknife Lithium Project, Northwest Territories, Canada. Metallurgical test
work comprised of heavy liquid separation (HLS) testing, dense media separation (DMS) testing, and batch flotation testing
was executed by SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”) in Lakefield, Ontario. Testing was completed on samples from the Big East
(BigE), Big West (BigW), Nite, Ki, Echo, Fi Main (FiM), Fi Southwest (FiSW), and Hi pegmatites.
Table 1- Summary of Results
Sample Flowsheet Wt. Assays (%) Recovery (%)
(%) Li Li2O Fe2O3 Li Fe2O3
BigE
Two-stage DMS + Flotation
21.1 2.7 5.79 0.76 87.4 29.3
BigW 11.1 2.67 5.75 0.76 81.4 16.0
Nite 22.4 2.69 5.78 0.74 89.3 28.7
Ki 18.4 2.8 6.02 0.58 84.8 22.8
Echo 15.7 2.87 6.17 0.85 87.1 13.8
FiM
Single-stage DMS + Flotation
15.8 2.6 5.59 0.49 60.8 14.7
FiSW 17.9 2.68 5.76 0.45 72.3 14.5
Hi 16.7 2.69 5.77 0.46 70.1 14.6
5.83 79.1
Average Spodumene Concentrate Grade (Li 2O %) 5.83
Average Global Lithium Recovery (%)
79.1
Francis MacDonald, CEO of LIFT comments, “We are very pleased to report that the comprehensive metallurgical testing
studies in preparation for our upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) yielded positive results. Studies notably
included pilot-scale DMS testing that indicated that this lower-cost separation method is suitable for the spodumene-enriched
pegmatite dikes that are targeted for the more accessible early mining sites that we envision could comprise lithium
production in the district for a generation or more. As such the results of these important studies underpin the high value
potential for our Yellowknife lithium project.”
Details of metallurgical program
Lithium chemical analysis of the metallurgical samples was performed by sodium peroxide fusion digestion followed by
inductively coupled plasma optical spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Whole rock analysis (WRA) was performed by borate fusion and
X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Elemental compositions of the pegmatite samples are presented in Table 2. Pegmatite sample
grades ranged from 0.86% to 1.46% Li2O and from 0.24% to 0.48% Fe2O3.
Table 2: Chemical analysis of the metallurgical samples
Component Composition (%)
BigE BigW Nite FiM FiSW HI KI Echo
Li
Li2O
Fe2O3
SiO2
Al2O3
MgO
CaO
Na2O
K2O
MnO
0.63
1.35
0.44
73.6
16.2
0.16
0.24
4.06
2.56
0.06
0.40
0.86
0.34
73.8
15.7
0.07
0.28
4.52
2.88
0.05
0.67
1.44
0.48
73.9
16.0
0.06
0.24
3.77
2.55
0.10
0.68
1.46
0.27
73.0
16.4
0.07
0.30
3.93
2.57
0.02
0.62
1.33
0.29
74.0
16.1
0.07
0.26
3.97
2.76
0.03
0.63
1.35
0.39
73.4
16.2
0.08
0.30
3.83
2.63
0.03
0.60
1.29
0.24
73.5
16.1
0.08
0.28
3.92
2.79
0.02
0.56
1.20
0.33
73.1
16.4
0.10
0.24
4.53
2.53
0.04
The mineralogical compositions of the metallurgical samples were determined using the semi-quantitative XRD and are shown
in Table 2 . Spodumene concentrations in the pegmatites ranged from 11.0% to 18.3% and are in line with lithium
concentrations (i.e., spodumene is the dominant lithium-bearing mineral identified). Minor amounts (1%) of triphylite (LiFe
(PO4)) was detected in the FiM sample. Muscovite concentrations in the pegmatite samples ranged from 4.5% to 7.8%. Minor
quantities (<1%) of iron-bearing minerals (e.g., chlorite, chlinochlore) were detected.
Table 3 – Metallurgical sample mineralogy from semi-quantitative XRD. Only minor amounts of non-spodumene
lithium-bearing minerals were found in samples with ~99% of lithia being hosted in spodumene.
Mineral Composition (%)
BigE BigW Nite FiM FiSW Hi Ki Echo
Spodumene 17.9 11 18.3 17.8 17.3 17.2 13.0 14.6
Albite 36.5 38.9 34.2 33.3 34.6 34.7 34.0 40.4
Quartz 26.5 28.3 28.7 28.8 28.2 28.9 27.3 26.5
Microcline 12.8 15.7 13.1 10.3 13.7 12.3 13.0 11.6
Muscovite 4.9 4.5 4.1 7.8 5.2 5.4 6.0 5.4
Fluorapatite 0.6 0.7 1.1 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.8
Triphylite - - - 1.0 - - - -
Beryl 0.2 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2
Magnetite 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3
Chlorite 0.3 - - 0.3 - 0.3 - -
Chlionochlore - - - - - - 0.2 -
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) tests were performed on eight metallurgical samples. The samples were sourced from saw-cut
channel samples on the surface of the various dykes. The samples were stage-crushed to a top crush size of 6.35 mm. The -
6.35 mm +0.85 mm fraction was submitted for HLS testing which achieved global lithium recoveries ranging from 29% to 68%
(interpolated to 5.5% Li2O concentrate grade). HLS test results are presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1 – HLS global lithium grade-recovery curves
Pilot-scale DMS was operated on each metallurgical sample. Two-stage DMS was undertaken on five of the samples (i.e.,
BigE, BigW, Nite, Ki, and Echo) and a single-stage DMS was operated on three of the samples (i.e., FIM, FiSW, and Hi).
For the two-stage DMS tests, global lithium recovery ranged from 49.9% to 60.4% with spodumene concentrate grade ranging
from 5.81% to 6.41% Li2O with relatively low iron content ranging from 0.62% to 0.88% Fe2O3. For single-stage DMS operation
(pre-concentrate production), global lithium recovery to the fines and sinks stream ranged from 93.0% to 95.2%. Pre-
concentrate grades ranged from 1.90% to 2.02% Li2O and 0.53% to 0.55% Fe 2O3.
Table 4 - Pilot-scale DMS test work results
DMS Sample DMS Products Wt. Assays (%) Recovery (%)
(%) Li Li2O Fe2O3 Li Fe2O3
Two-Stage DMS
BigE
Concentrate
(Stage 2 Sinks)
14.9 2.7 5.81 0.71 59.9 17.8
BigW 7.8 2.71 5.83 0.75 57.4 11.9
Nite 15.4 2.71 5.83 0.77 60.4 27.4
Ki 10.8 2.86 6.15 0.62 49.9 18.1
Echo 10.5 2.98 6.41 0.88 58.4 19.5
Single-Stage DMS
FiM
Pre-Concentrate (Fines + Stage 1 Sinks)
72 0.88 1.9 0.53 93 80.9
FiSW 68.1 0.9 1.94 0.54 95.1 76.7
Hi 66.8 0.94 2.02 0.55 95.2 77.9
Three sets of flotation tests were performed on head samples or products from DMS operation (fines and DMS Stage 1 sinks
or fines and Stage 2 DMS floats). For the flotation tests undertaken on the head samples, all samples produced roughly 5.5%
Li2O spodumene concentrate with lithium recovery ranging from roughly 69% to 72%. For flotation tests undertaken on the
fines and stage 2 DMS floats, 5.5% Li 2O spodumene concentrate was produced with lithium recovery ranging from 56% to
75% (Figure 2). For flotation tests undertaken on the fines and stage 1 DMS sinks, 5.5% Li 2O concentrate was produced with
lithium recovery ranging from roughly 66% to 77% (Figure 3).
Figure 2 - Flotation test results on DMS fines and stage 2 DMS floats
Figure 3 - Flotation test results on fines and DMS Stage 1 sinks
Overall laboratory lithium recoveries were calculated based on the DMS and batch flotation test results. Results for the two-
stage DMS and flotation flowsheet produced combined concentrates ranging in grade from 5.75% to 6.17% Li 2O and lithium
recoveries ranging from 81% to 87%. Tests undertaken with a single-stage DMS pre-concentration step followed by flotation
produced concentrates ranging in grade from 5.59% to 5.77% Li 2O with laboratory-scale lithium recoveries ranging from 61%
to 72%.
Qualified Person
The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding LIFT’s mineral properties has been
reviewed and approved by Jarrett Quinn, Ph.D., P.Eng, Process Director, Synectiq Inc.., and a Qualified Person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and member in good standing of the Ordre
des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) (Registration number: 5018119).
About LIFT
LIFT is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of lithium pegmatite projects
located in Canada. The Company’s flagship project is the Yellowknife Lithium Project located in Northwest Territories, Canada.
LIFT also holds three early-stage exploration properties in Quebec, Canada with excellent potential for the discovery of buried
lithium pegmatites, as well as the Cali Project in Northwest Territories within the Little Nahanni Pegmatite Group.
For further information, please contact:
Francis MacDonald Daniel Gordon
Chief Executive Officer Investor Relations
Tel: + 1.604.609.6185 Tel: +1.604.609.6185
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Website: www.li-ft.com
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