Arcadia pilot plant nears completion

AUSTRALIAN Securities Exchange listed junior miner, Prospect Resources Limited (PRL), says development of its Arcadia lithium project is progressing well and within budget, with plant works 92 percent complete on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC).
The Arcadia lithium project is located in Arcturus on the outskirts of Harare. In an update to shareholders this week, the firm said it also expects to complete its crushing circuit, DMS module and commence production of high purity petalite. “…I am pleased to announce that we have completed approximately 92 percent of the work required to commence production at our pilot plant,” managing director Sam Hosack said.

“With lithium market sentiment and prices having increased through 2021, a strong cash balance and the company being shovel-ready to develop the Arcadia Project, Prospect is well-positioned to make the transition to development and production”.

“The company’s off take partner Sibelco has requested additional tonnes over and above the original planned 200 tonnes so that they can seek qualification with a greater number of customers across Europe and Asia.

“The early delivery of product will ensure homologation can be achieved in the customers’ production process and will establish clear additional demand for the product within the industry, which will assist Prospect in leveraging the value of the Arcadia project as the world leader in supply of this and its high quality spodumene products,” reads part of the update.

The open-pit project, regarded as one of the world’s biggest hard rock lithium resource, was granted national project status by the government in October 2017.
The mineralisation at the Arcadia deposit is predominantly made up of petalite and spodumene, while the secondary minerals are eucryptite, bikitaite, lepidolite, and tantalite.

Prospect anticipates producing an average of 212,000 tonnes (t) of 6 percent spodumene concentrate, 216,000t of petalite concentrate, and 188,000 pounds (lbs) of tantalum per annum from Arcadia. The project is estimated to have a mine life of 12 years.

Pre-feasibility studies of the project were completed in July 2017, while the definitive feasibility study was completed in November 2018. According to the Mines ministry, the proven and probable reserves of the Arcadia lithium project are estimated to be 26,9mt. Contained mineral is estimated to be 351,000 tonnes of lithium oxide (Li2O) grading 1,31 percent and 7,6 million pounds (Mlbs) of Ta2O5.
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