Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX:SYA) Successful Thermal Conversion of Authier Spodumene Concentrate

Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:DMNXF) ("Sayona" or the "Company") is pleased to report the successful completion of a hydrometallurgical testing program on Authier lithium concentrates.

The program, performed by SGS Lakefield in Canada, demonstrated that the conversion of Authier lithium concentrate into traditionally extractable beta spodumene (a form of spodumene amenable to further processing) was achievable, at high conversion rates.

Three flotation concentrate samples were transformed from alpha to beta spodumene in a decrepitating kiln. The lithium was the extracted from lithium sulphate through sulphuric acid roasting and then leached with water to be transformed into aqueous lithium sulphate - further purification is required to produce a lithium carbonate end product. Up to 96.8% of the lithium was recovered in the process (see Table 1 in the link below) from a 5.98% Li20 concentrate.

The results compare favourably with benchmark data generated from other hard-rock spodumene projects in Canada with similar testing conditions (i.e. decrepitation temperature and time). The testing was performed on concentrates that have been upgraded as part of the Company's on-going metallurgical optimisation program (see ASX release, Authier Update, 28 June 2017).

The results increase the confidence that battery grade lithium carbonate can be produced from Authier lithium concentrates.

The Company believes that this was an important next step towards evaluating value-adding opportunities for Authier the concentrates. Currently there is significant financial margins being achieved by the processing of spodumene concentrates into lithium carbonate (the current global spot price is between US$18,000-US$19,000 for 99% min purity). The Company is evaluating the technical and economic viability of building a lithium carbonate and/or hydroxide production conversion facility in Quebec to enhance the project value, and improve the long-term competitive position of the project. Quebec is uniquely positioned with a number of significant commercial and market advantages, including:

- High quality infrastructure, including roads, rail, and port access;

- Globally competitive, low-cost gas and electricity prices. Electricity is sourced from renewable energy;

- Skilled, competitive cost labor force;

- Sulphuric acid availability from a copper smelter at Rouyn Noranda, 80 kilometres west of the Authier project site;

- Road and rail transport networks connecting to export ports;

- Supportive government that invests directly into mineral development projects (e.g. Nemaska and North American Lithium); and

- Located in close proximity to the US markets including, the Tesla Giga factory in Nevada, and other planned Giga factories in the United States.

The Company will update the market on the next steps for the downstream strategy in due course.

To view tables and figures, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/QJ7JQFHA


About Sayona Mining Limited

Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is a North American lithium producer with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. In Quebec, Sayona's assets comprise North American Lithium together with the Authier Lithium Project and its emerging Tansim Lithium Project, supported by a strategic partnership with American lithium developer Piedmont Lithium Inc. (ASX:PLL). Sayona also holds a 60% stake in the Moblan Lithium Project in northern Quebec.

In Western Australia, the Company holds a large tenement portfolio in the Pilbara region
prospective for gold and lithium. Sayona is exploring for Hemi-style gold targets in the world-class Pilbara region, while its lithium projects include Company-owned leases and those subject to a joint venture with Morella Corporation (ASX:1MC).

   

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