3336 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Estimated Li resources in hard rock deposits were signif-
icantly increased recently due to the advanced exploration
and discovery of new deposits and the number of advanced
mining projects has increased in several European coun-
tries. Granitic pegmatites and rare metals granites (RMG)
have been exploited in Europe mainly for the industrial
minerals (quartz, feldspar, kaolinite). Granitic pegmatite is
an important lithium source and also the source of many
other critical metals, such as Ta, Nb, Sn, Be, Cs, Ru, Sc, U,
Th and REE. The supply of some of these elements, i.e.,
Li and Ta is of concern, therefore, it is very important to
investigate recovery of such metals from granitic pegmatite.
Thus, it is crucial to evaluate the potential and contribution
of “hard Li” sources to decrease the supply risks of critical
materials for the European economy.
The most important type of lithium deposit in crystal-
line rock is pegmatite (Tkachev et al., 2018, Meng et al.,
2021). The largest lithium pegmatite resource is the Kings
Mountain pegmatite belt in North America with 62.3 Mt
at an average grade of 0.67% Li (0.42 Mt lithium). The
Australian Greenbushes deposit is Australia’s largest lithium
deposit, a 31.4 Mt spodumene deposit averaging 1.44%
LiO (0.45 Mt lithium). The Bikita pegmatite (South
Africa), exploited for more than a century, contains 10.8
million tonnes of lithium with an average content of 1.4%
(0.15 million tonnes of lithium).
Exploring European Lithium Potential
The largest lithium pegmatite in Europe is found in
Portugal and adjacent Spain, which contains numerous
0.3% Li aplite pegmatites. Recent exploration has been
carried out in Finland (Ullava Länttä), indicating that these
are 32 distinct bodies with a composition of 56% feldspar,
25% quartz and 16% spodumene, with a resource of 2.947
Mt containing 0.43% Li (0.013 Mt lithium) (Gruber et al.,
2011 Kesler et al., 2012).
The French company’s most advanced hard Li proj-
ect is the EMILI project operated by Imerys, which aims
to mine the rare-metal granites of Beauvoir. The Beauvoir
granite is reported, along with the Colettes granite, in the
Echassières granitic complex and more specifically in the
Massif Central.The main minerals associated with the
Beauvoir granite deposit are quartz, K-feldspar, albite and
micas (muscovite and lepidolite). These minerals can be
found in different abundances and habitus in the units. In
addition, several minor mineral phases (amblygonite, topaz,
Table 3. Advanced European lithium projects
Project Name Company
Deposit/
Li Mineral Comments Source
Alvarrões-
Gonçalo
Li project
Felmica Pegmatite aplite,
lepidolite
Mine is operating to produce
feldspar product for ceramics.
2.38 Mt @2.54% Li2O,
2.64 Mt @1.76% Li2O,
N/C (author)
Keliber
Li project
Sibanye-
Stillwater
Pegmatite
LCT,spodumene
15,000 t/year of battery-grade
lithium hydroxide monohydrate
over 16 years
https://thevault.exchange/?get_
group_doc=245/1669636132-
ssw-presentation-keliber-approval-
event-28Nov2022.pdf
Barroso Project, Savannah
Resources
Pegmatite LCT,
spodumene
The deposit could contain 27
million tonnes of lithium ore,
including over 285,900 tonnes of
lithium oxide.
https://www.savannahresources.
com/project/barroso-lithium-
project-portugal/
EMILI Project, Imerys Granite à métaux
rares, lépidolite)
34,000 tonnes of lithium
hydroxide per year from 2028 over
25 years
Personal communication
Cinovec Project European
Metals Holding
(Zinwaldite)
29,386 tonnes of battery-grade
lithium hydroxide per year over a
25-year period at a plant located
9 km from the mine.
https://www.europeanmet.com/
cinovec-project-overview/
Wolfsberg Project European
Lithium
LCT, spodumene Measured and indicated resources
of 6.3 Mt at 1.17% Li2O.
Spodumene concentrate 6%
LiO2
https://europeanlithium.com/
wolfsberg-lithium-project/
Estimated Li resources in hard rock deposits were signif-
icantly increased recently due to the advanced exploration
and discovery of new deposits and the number of advanced
mining projects has increased in several European coun-
tries. Granitic pegmatites and rare metals granites (RMG)
have been exploited in Europe mainly for the industrial
minerals (quartz, feldspar, kaolinite). Granitic pegmatite is
an important lithium source and also the source of many
other critical metals, such as Ta, Nb, Sn, Be, Cs, Ru, Sc, U,
Th and REE. The supply of some of these elements, i.e.,
Li and Ta is of concern, therefore, it is very important to
investigate recovery of such metals from granitic pegmatite.
Thus, it is crucial to evaluate the potential and contribution
of “hard Li” sources to decrease the supply risks of critical
materials for the European economy.
The most important type of lithium deposit in crystal-
line rock is pegmatite (Tkachev et al., 2018, Meng et al.,
2021). The largest lithium pegmatite resource is the Kings
Mountain pegmatite belt in North America with 62.3 Mt
at an average grade of 0.67% Li (0.42 Mt lithium). The
Australian Greenbushes deposit is Australia’s largest lithium
deposit, a 31.4 Mt spodumene deposit averaging 1.44%
LiO (0.45 Mt lithium). The Bikita pegmatite (South
Africa), exploited for more than a century, contains 10.8
million tonnes of lithium with an average content of 1.4%
(0.15 million tonnes of lithium).
Exploring European Lithium Potential
The largest lithium pegmatite in Europe is found in
Portugal and adjacent Spain, which contains numerous
0.3% Li aplite pegmatites. Recent exploration has been
carried out in Finland (Ullava Länttä), indicating that these
are 32 distinct bodies with a composition of 56% feldspar,
25% quartz and 16% spodumene, with a resource of 2.947
Mt containing 0.43% Li (0.013 Mt lithium) (Gruber et al.,
2011 Kesler et al., 2012).
The French company’s most advanced hard Li proj-
ect is the EMILI project operated by Imerys, which aims
to mine the rare-metal granites of Beauvoir. The Beauvoir
granite is reported, along with the Colettes granite, in the
Echassières granitic complex and more specifically in the
Massif Central.The main minerals associated with the
Beauvoir granite deposit are quartz, K-feldspar, albite and
micas (muscovite and lepidolite). These minerals can be
found in different abundances and habitus in the units. In
addition, several minor mineral phases (amblygonite, topaz,
Table 3. Advanced European lithium projects
Project Name Company
Deposit/
Li Mineral Comments Source
Alvarrões-
Gonçalo
Li project
Felmica Pegmatite aplite,
lepidolite
Mine is operating to produce
feldspar product for ceramics.
2.38 Mt @2.54% Li2O,
2.64 Mt @1.76% Li2O,
N/C (author)
Keliber
Li project
Sibanye-
Stillwater
Pegmatite
LCT,spodumene
15,000 t/year of battery-grade
lithium hydroxide monohydrate
over 16 years
https://thevault.exchange/?get_
group_doc=245/1669636132-
ssw-presentation-keliber-approval-
event-28Nov2022.pdf
Barroso Project, Savannah
Resources
Pegmatite LCT,
spodumene
The deposit could contain 27
million tonnes of lithium ore,
including over 285,900 tonnes of
lithium oxide.
https://www.savannahresources.
com/project/barroso-lithium-
project-portugal/
EMILI Project, Imerys Granite à métaux
rares, lépidolite)
34,000 tonnes of lithium
hydroxide per year from 2028 over
25 years
Personal communication
Cinovec Project European
Metals Holding
(Zinwaldite)
29,386 tonnes of battery-grade
lithium hydroxide per year over a
25-year period at a plant located
9 km from the mine.
https://www.europeanmet.com/
cinovec-project-overview/
Wolfsberg Project European
Lithium
LCT, spodumene Measured and indicated resources
of 6.3 Mt at 1.17% Li2O.
Spodumene concentrate 6%
LiO2
https://europeanlithium.com/
wolfsberg-lithium-project/