Impact: Positive
Patriot Battery Metals announced results from preliminary metallurgical test work on a 225kg sample from the CV5 pegmatite at its 100%-owned Corvette property in Quebec. Testing has created a 6%+ Li2O spodumene concentrate with Li recoveries exceeding 70% and iron oxide content of ~0.65%. We view these results positively as initial results indicate that the more cost effective, DMS and magnetic separation processes can be used in the flowsheet. Additionally, the low iron content makes the concentrate more desirable, while the coarse grain of the samples (~6.5mm and ~9.5mm) which liberated well, lowers the amount of crushing and grinding required, ultimately reducing the equipment and energy needs of the flowsheet. These are encouraging results, but a Phase II testing program is planned in the fall for further validation.