Argosy Minerals has successfully concentrated lithium brine from its Rincon project by up to six times in pilot-scale evaporation tests, bolstering confidence in its Definitive Feasibility Study and production targets.
- Pilot testing concentrates lithium brine to 4-5wt%
- Stable operation with no major technical issues
- Supports engineering design and economic evaluation
- Confirms mechanical evaporation as viable concentration method
- Production target assumptions remain unchanged
Pilot Tests Confirm Significant Lithium Concentration
Argosy Minerals Limited (ASX:AGY) has taken a notable step forward in advancing its 12,000 tonnes per annum Rincon Lithium Project in Argentina by successfully concentrating lithium brine from about 1.3wt% to a target range of 4 to 5wt% lithium. This 4 to 6-fold concentration was achieved through continuous pilot-scale evaporation and concentration testing using proprietary European technology.
The pilot program demonstrated stable performance under conditions relevant to commercial operations, with no significant technical issues such as foaming, scaling, or salt precipitation encountered. Substantial water removal was also confirmed, with approximately 75 to 83% of the feed volume recoverable as condensate water, effectively reducing solution volumes and potentially enhancing downstream lithium recovery.
Engineering Data to Support Definitive Feasibility Study
These testworks generated critical engineering and operating data that will feed directly into Argosy’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), aiding in process design, equipment sizing, and economic evaluation. The results reduce process risk by improving understanding of brine behaviour and validating mechanical evaporation as a viable concentration method downstream of the solvent extraction stage.
Argosy’s Managing Director Jerko Zuvela highlighted the significance of these outcomes, stating they represent another key milestone toward completing the DFS and realising the project’s development potential. The company reiterated that all material assumptions underpinning the production target announced in April 2024 remain unchanged, maintaining consistency with previous modelling and resource estimates.
Project Progress and Industry Positioning
The Rincon Lithium Project sits within Argentina’s Salta Province, part of the globally significant Lithium Triangle. Argosy’s approach involves fast-tracking development to produce battery-quality lithium carbonate, leveraging a modular production strategy that initially targets 2,000tpa as part of a broader 10,000tpa operation.
This latest evaporation testwork complements prior pilot plant successes, including achieving 99% lithium chloride purity and lithium recoveries exceeding 94% in continuous operations, which have been instrumental in de-risking the project’s process flowsheet and supporting industrial scale-up plans.
With the DFS nearing completion and critical energy infrastructure agreements secured, Argosy is positioning Rincon as a competitive supplier amid growing lithium demand for the battery sector. The successful concentration of lithium brine through mechanical evaporation enhances the project’s technical robustness and economic prospects.
Bottom Line?
Mechanical evaporation testwork success strengthens Rincon’s DFS foundation, but commercial viability hinges on ongoing feasibility and market conditions.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the evaporation process scale to full commercial production volumes?
- What are the next critical milestones in the DFS timeline for Rincon?
- How might fluctuations in lithium market demand impact Argosy’s development strategy?