#USA #Nevada #Century Lithium #Angel Island #Rare Earths

Century Lithium Achieves High Recovery of Rare Earth Elements

In a significant development for the mining sector, Century Lithium Corp. has announced promising results regarding the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from lithium extraction processes carried out at their Angel Island project in Nevada, USA. The company, which operates under the symbols TSXV: LCE and OTCQX: CYDVF, has confirmed that it can achieve high levels of REE recovery without compromising lithium extraction, suggesting a new, added layer of value to their operations.

Optimizing the Recovery Process

Century Lithium’s Senior Vice President of Metallurgy, Todd Fayram, expressed the company’s enthusiasm about these results, pointing out that the leach solutions derived from their operations have proved to be a promising source of secondary-value opportunities. The successful extraction of REEs, including dysprosium, gadolinium, neodymium, and praseodymium, in addition to critical metals like scandium, lanthanum, and cerium, highlights the potential economic benefits that could stem from these advancements.

The ongoing ion-exchange tests yielded greater than 97% recovery of the identified REEs and critical metals, with a stringent selectivity maintained against lithium. This precision is crucial for the subsequent lithium recovery operations, which utilize a combination of ultrafiltration and direct lithium extraction (DLE) methods to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.

Continued Advancements in Metallurgical Programs

As part of its comprehensive metallurgical program at Angel Island, Century Lithium is focused on further enhancing performance and selectivity of the ion-exchange process. They are also advancing downstream processing flowsheets for both concentration and refinement of REEs, while evaluating viable market pathways for commercializing these by-products. The company's efforts will ultimately assess how REEs can contribute economically to their primary lithium production.

The latest achievements mark a vital technical milestone, affirming that REE extraction and recovery can be integrated into the existing lithium recovery framework without causing disruptions. This positions Century Lithium favorably within the North American critical minerals supply chain, addressing both governmental and industry needs for robust mineral supply solutions.

Commitment to Sustainable Practices

With the significant concentrations of REEs found in the Angel Island claystone, Century Lithium is unequivocally advancing its mission to develop a sustainable and economically viable lithium production process. They are in the permitting phase for a three-part feasibility plan that is expected to yield an annual average of approximately 34,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate over a projected lifespan of 40 years.

With the extraction of REEs being a critical component of their operation, Century Lithium aims not only to bolster their economic position but also to enhance supply chain resilience. Their focus on producing both lithium and REEs aligns closely with broader industry initiatives aimed at securing essential minerals for technological advancements.

In conclusion, Century Lithium's innovative approaches and solid operational strategies promise a bright future in the realm of critical minerals, thus emphasizing the increasing importance of advanced metallurgical techniques in modern mining.