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Near Zero-Waste Processing Routes for the Exploitation of the
European Hard Rock Lithium Deposits
Lev O. Filippov, Inna V. Filippova
Université de Lorraine, CNRS, GeoRessources, Nancy, France
ABSTRACT: Granitic pegmatites and rare metals granites are an important Li source as well as the source of
many other critical metals, such as Ta, Nb, Sn, Be, Cs, Ru, Sc, U, Th and REE. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate
the potential and contribution of hard rock lithium deposits to decrease the supply risks of critical materials for
the European economy.
This work is aiming at evaluation of the processing routes to unlock the “hard Li” European deposits not only
to produce the high-quality Li concentrate but also to increase the economic viability of the deposits exploita-
tion by recovering the others critical metals. The main Li-bearing mineral was lepidolite for the feldspar/aplite
pegmatite (Gonçalo, Portugal) and RMG (Beauvoir, France) ores, while the spodumene recovery was evaluated
from the LCT pegmatite from the Länttä and Syväjärvi deposits (Finland). The flotation route was used for the
recovery of the Li-bearing minerals (lepidolite, spodumene) from all types of ores. The challenges for processing
were related to the multi-scale liberation degree of the both two ore types. Alternative processing routes have
been tested, including separate flotation of coarse and fine size fractions. The combined gravity-flotation tech-
nology according to the liberation degree and mineral associations allowed for the production of Li concentrate
for battery quality Li hydroxide. The processing circuits targeted also the metallic by-product recovery such as
Ta, Nb, Sn, as well as the quartz and feldspar product for the ceramic industry. The processing flow-sheets for
the metallic by-product recovery included sorting, gravity and magnetic separation methods, while flotation was
applied for the quartz/feldspar separation.
The development of combined technologies revealed that the production of Li concentrate can be considered
as a driver of whole mine project economy. Thus, a comprehensive exploitation of low grade unconventional
deposits to reach “near-zero waste” operation was developed.
INTRODUCTION
Lithium is an essential material for green energy stor-
age technologies and is fast becoming a metal of crucial
importance to the world. The growing use of lithium
in rechargeable batteries for portable electronic devices
(smart electronic gadgets, computers and rechargeable
power tools) and hybrid and electric vehicles has signifi-
cantly increased the demand for lithium. The abundance
of lithium in the average continental crust varies from 20
to 70 ppm. It is a low-atomic-weight alkaline metal with a
high charge-to-weight ratio. Lithium-ion batteries, which
generate ~3 volts/cell, have been one of the main lithium
consumers in recent years. By contrast, lead-acid batteries
generate 2.1 volts/cell and zinc-carbon batteries 1.5 volts.
Lithium is generally extracted from two economic
sources: brines and hard rock ores. Approximately 60% of
Near Zero-Waste Processing Routes for the Exploitation of the
European Hard Rock Lithium Deposits
Lev O. Filippov, Inna V. Filippova
Université de Lorraine, CNRS, GeoRessources, Nancy, France
ABSTRACT: Granitic pegmatites and rare metals granites are an important Li source as well as the source of
many other critical metals, such as Ta, Nb, Sn, Be, Cs, Ru, Sc, U, Th and REE. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate
the potential and contribution of hard rock lithium deposits to decrease the supply risks of critical materials for
the European economy.
This work is aiming at evaluation of the processing routes to unlock the “hard Li” European deposits not only
to produce the high-quality Li concentrate but also to increase the economic viability of the deposits exploita-
tion by recovering the others critical metals. The main Li-bearing mineral was lepidolite for the feldspar/aplite
pegmatite (Gonçalo, Portugal) and RMG (Beauvoir, France) ores, while the spodumene recovery was evaluated
from the LCT pegmatite from the Länttä and Syväjärvi deposits (Finland). The flotation route was used for the
recovery of the Li-bearing minerals (lepidolite, spodumene) from all types of ores. The challenges for processing
were related to the multi-scale liberation degree of the both two ore types. Alternative processing routes have
been tested, including separate flotation of coarse and fine size fractions. The combined gravity-flotation tech-
nology according to the liberation degree and mineral associations allowed for the production of Li concentrate
for battery quality Li hydroxide. The processing circuits targeted also the metallic by-product recovery such as
Ta, Nb, Sn, as well as the quartz and feldspar product for the ceramic industry. The processing flow-sheets for
the metallic by-product recovery included sorting, gravity and magnetic separation methods, while flotation was
applied for the quartz/feldspar separation.
The development of combined technologies revealed that the production of Li concentrate can be considered
as a driver of whole mine project economy. Thus, a comprehensive exploitation of low grade unconventional
deposits to reach “near-zero waste” operation was developed.
INTRODUCTION
Lithium is an essential material for green energy stor-
age technologies and is fast becoming a metal of crucial
importance to the world. The growing use of lithium
in rechargeable batteries for portable electronic devices
(smart electronic gadgets, computers and rechargeable
power tools) and hybrid and electric vehicles has signifi-
cantly increased the demand for lithium. The abundance
of lithium in the average continental crust varies from 20
to 70 ppm. It is a low-atomic-weight alkaline metal with a
high charge-to-weight ratio. Lithium-ion batteries, which
generate ~3 volts/cell, have been one of the main lithium
consumers in recent years. By contrast, lead-acid batteries
generate 2.1 volts/cell and zinc-carbon batteries 1.5 volts.
Lithium is generally extracted from two economic
sources: brines and hard rock ores. Approximately 60% of