Upgrade work at Bacanora Minerals' lithium project ongoing

Bacanora Minerals reported that work to upgrade the lithium resource is ongoing at its Sonora project in Mexico

As part of the AIM-listed company’s feasibility study, which is due to finish by the end of first quarter of 2017, a production plan for a 35,000 tonnes per annum lithium carbonate is currently in operation at the project, which is expected to ramp up production following an initial phase of producing 17,500 tonnes.

Resource upgrade and mine planning work, prepared by International Mining Consultants, has started following the completion of the infill drilling programme

Ausenco, an Australian engineering firm, is about 35% of the way through an engineering feasibility study, process, while quotations are being sought from international vendors for larger equipment and machinery.

The expanded pilot plant, which has been operating since May, produced battery grade samples of lithium carbonate which has been supporting the distribution of battery-grade lithium carbonate samples to potential off-takers in Asia and Europe, flow sheet development and optimisation of lithium recoveries and reagent consumption and operator training.

The AIM-listed company is working with the SignumBox Group in Santiago to develop long-term lithium pricing scenarios and supply-demand models.

Shares in Bacanora Minerals were up 0.67% to 75p at 1304 GMT.