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Ioneer partners with EcoPro to develop lithium clays from Rhyolite Ridge project

November 24, 2023

Critical minerals developer Ioneer (ASX: INR) has signed a binding research and development agreement with Korea’s EcoPro Innovation Co to test and develop lithium clays at the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in rural Nevada.


The agreement provides an opportunity for Ioneer to accelerate technical activities at Rhyolite Ridge and consider commercialisation options for the 1 million tonne lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) clay resource within the soon-to-be-permitted project.


Under the terms, EcoPro will fund and build a commercial-scale lithium hydroxide refining plant to develop lithium clay supplied from Rhyolite Ridge.


Ioneer will supply the raw material at no cost to EcoPro and the profits from refining would be shared equally between the partners.


The partners aim to develop a process to commercialise refined lithium materials for the electric vehicle battery supply chain in the US.


Keen on partnership

Ioneer executive chairman James Calaway said the company was keen to build on its partnership with EcoPro.


“This partnership provides us with additional financial flexibility to focus on delivering EcoPro’s core investment at Rhyolite Ridge as well as develop growth opportunities,” he said.


“We look forward to accelerating development of another layer of Rhyolite Ridge mineralisation… the ultimate goal is to increase the supply of refined lithium materials into the US and create hundreds of good-paying jobs in Nevada and beyond.”


Stage 1 production

Stage 1 of Rhyolite Ridge focuses on searlesite (high lithium-high boron) mineralisation while the lithium clay mineralisation will be extracted and set aside.

It will see Ioneer produce approximately 20,600 tonnes of lithium carbonate alongside approximately 174,400 tonnes of boric acid per year during the mine’s 26-year life.


Any production from activities contemplated by the new agreement would be incremental.


Review process

Stage 1 is currently in the final phase of the US federal review process.


Once in operation, it is expected to quadruple the current US supply of lithium and help rebalance the global production of boric acid.


Construction at Rhyolite Ridge will be funded from a combination of conditional commitments of approximately $770 million in equity from joint venture partner Sibanye-Stillwater and a $1.1 billion loan from the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.


Work is expected to start next year with first lithium production targeted for 2026.






Source: https://smallcaps.com.au/ioneer-partners-ecopro-develop-lithium-clays-rhyolite-ridge-project/

Queensland breaks ground on CopperString

July 9, 2024
The Queensland Government has broken ground on the first construction works of the $5 billion CopperString project. Work commenced yesterday on the CopperString projects’ first and largest workforce accommodation site. The site will house those charged with building the project’s 840km high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mount Isa to the ‘SuperGrid’ for the first time. The workforce accommodation will house up to 550 construction workers at its peak. These workers will construct a nearby substation and progress early stages of the transmission line development heading west from Hughenden out to Mount Isa. Supercharging the state’s north-west aims to unlock Queensland’s $500 billion north-west minerals province. It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting. Queensland Premier Stephen Miles said CopperString is the biggest ever expansion to the state’s publicly owned energy system. “Queenslanders deserve cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy – to power their homes, our schools, hospitals, shopping centres and more,” Miles said . “CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming Queensland’s north and north-west – opening up mining opportunities, creating more jobs and unlocking critical minerals which will be essential in developing renewable technologies. “This is the start of a long and exciting future for the region and our state.” Commencing later this month, project owner, Queensland Powerlink, will be offering free sessions for businesses along the CopperString corridor to build their capabilities. The program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance to help businesses build confidence to bid on major projects and supply chain work in the region. “All of North Queensland understands the immense opportunities that CopperString presents for local jobs both directly and indirectly which is why this is such a momentous day,” Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said.  “Critical minerals are the next big boom for the resources industry and the feedback I’ve had from companies is that this project is key to unlocking those opportunities.” Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/queensland-breaks-ground-on-copperstring/

Showcasing the best in underground mining

July 8, 2024
Underground mines are busy places, and it’s vital companies are on top of their processes to enable an efficient and safe underground operation. Whether it’s having the best equipment to drive higher production, maximise return on investment, minimise waste or keep workers out of harm’s way, mining companies benefit from understanding and investing in the right underground technologies. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/showcasing-the-best-in-underground-mining/

BHP goes green at ‘world’s largest’ copper mine

July 8, 2024
BHP has started environmental processing to have the transport at its Escondida copper mine in Chile transitioned to an electric trolley system. The Big Australian will invest around $US250 million ($371.6 million) in the project at Escondida, which it owns in a joint venture with Rio Tinto. The funds will go towards installing key infrastructure to electrically assist the movement of extraction trucks in areas where the highest fuel consumption currently takes place. BHP has submitted an environmental impact statement to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. “The electric trolley system is one of the initiatives with which we seek to move towards a safer and more sustainable way of operating hand in hand with technology,” BHP Escondida president Alejandro Tapia said . “This project will allow us to reduce the fuel consumption of our extraction trucks and thus advance our goal of net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” The project includes the construction of a new electrical substation and transmission lines both inside and around the Escondida Norte pit. These facilities will electrically assist the movement of trucks inside the mine in the areas where they go up loaded with ore and, consequently, consume more fuel. With this new technology, instead of using diesel, they will be propelled by electrical power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving productivity associated with truck performance given the higher travel speed. Once construction kicks off up to 160 jobs are expected to be created. The trolley project is in addition to other technological transformation initiatives that the company maintains in different stages of study and execution, including the progressive incorporation of autonomy in its mining equipment.  To date, Escondida has six autonomous trucks in full operation and by 2025 it expects to have the largest fleet of autonomous equipment in South America. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/bhp-goes-green-at-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
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