Mining and Minerals

Lithium and Battery Minerals Processing

Lithium projects across the region have moved faster than the technical understanding behind them, and several have shipped concentrate that buyers discounted heavily for iron, mica or simple inconsistency. This course covers producing to specification. Delegates work through lithium mineralogy, spodumene, petalite and lepidolite, and what each implies for recovery and for the converter buying it. Ore characterisation and the deleterious elements that carry penalties are addressed. Dense medium separation is covered as the workhorse route, including medium control and the tramp material that upsets it. Flotation follows for finer fractions, with reagent regimes and mica rejection. Magnetic separation for iron removal is covered. Concentrate specification, sampling and the contract terms that decide payment are addressed honestly. Downstream conversion to carbonate and hydroxide is covered at an awareness level. Tantalum and other by products follow. The course closes on tailings, on water and on the economics that decide whether a project holds up.