LITHIUM PROCESSING -SHORT COURSE

Dont miss out as bookings are filling fast!!!!

The mining, processing and production of battery grade lithium has seen incredible growth and profitability over the last five years. Not all lithium ores are suitable and will result in a successful project. This course looks at the occurrence, mineralogy, end uses and specifications, beneficiation, thermal treatment, hydrometallurgical options, lithium recovery and recent project histories.

Date: 27 November 2020

Venue: Online

Registration: online anytime

Presenter: METS Engineering

Organiser: ALTA 2020 Conference & Exhibition

Contact Name: Allison Taylor

Contact Phone: +61 411 692 442

Contact Email: allisontaylor@altamet.com.au

Introduction

Australia has become the world’s largest producer of lithium globally, being driven by a number of projects. Talison’s expansion at Greenbushes and the commissioning of a number of projects has led to Australia currently producing around 43% per cent of world output. Numerous downstream plants have been announced with the two-stage $700 million lithium hydroxide production plant in Kwinina by Tianqi nearing completion, a $200 million lithium refinery in Kalgoorlie by Neometals, a $600 million Port Hedland refinery, a

$1 billion refinery in Kemerton and an additional Kwinana refinery by the Kidman-SQM JV.

It comes as other players also ramp up production, including Australian-owned Orocobre, which owns a brine operation in Argentina, the re-commissioning of Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin operation, and production starting at Neometals Mt Marion site in Western Australia. Both Pilgangoora projects - Altura and Pilbara Minerals - are commissioning and ramping up to design. Additionally, Towana’s Bald Hill commenced operations in March 2018 and Mineral Resources’ Wodgina commenced operation in April 2017.

Some analysts are warning this increased supply could be a problem for the dozens of new junior producers who have piled in to take advantage of strong lithium prices. In addition, the massive ramp up seen across the world could possibly lead to an oversupply for lithium; however many companies have announced expansions for processing concentrates and the production of batteries.

The lithium carbonate spot price has more than tripled in the past two years, from $6,000 a tonne to $20,000 a tonne for battery grade material.

Key Learning Outcomes

·       Lithium Uses, Supply and Demand

·       Hardrock Processing

·       Brine Processing

·       Production of Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide

Who Should Attend?

Mining personnel, project managers, geologists, senior mine and processing plant operating staff, engineers and researchers. The course can also benefit training providers, suppliers to the resource industry, technologists, brokers and investors. It assumes no prior knowledge.

Course Outline

·       Introduction

·       Lithium: Markets, Uses and Sources

·       Mineralogy

·       Crushing

 Milling and Classification

·       Gravity and DMS

·       Flotation

·       Processing Hardrock Lithium Concentrates

·       Brines and Hydrometallurgy

·       Metallurgical Testwork

·       Project Examples

Duration (for CPD recording purposes): 8.25 hours

If you are recording mandatory CPD you should refer to your own regulator’s requirements as recognition of CPD hours may vary.

Course Materials

All attendees with receive a hardcopy of the course notes upon registration, and softcopy on USB on completion of the course.

Fees (Australian Dollars including GST)

Standard fee                              $595

3+ Attendees, Exhibitors, Sponsors, Presenters              $450

Students                                                                            $150

Course Presenters About METS

METS Engineering Group (METS) is a multi-disciplined engineering partner. We are specialists in our field with over 30 years of extensive project experience covering a variety of engineering disciplines and industry sectors. We take pride in delivering unique value adding pragmatic commercial solutions that you won’t get from other consultancies.

Damian Connelly

Principal Consulting Engineer LinkedIn Profile

Damian is a highly regarded mining professional with over 40 years of industry expertise. His extensive experience on a range of commodities includes the gold, copper, lead, zinc, uranium and iron ore industries with particular emphasis on gold. Experience has been gained in plant operations, feasibility studies, detailed design, construction and commissioning. He has been involved in many projects including engineering, audits, due diligence, tenders and expert witness work. Damian is also the author of over 45 technical papers.

Dr Dennis Yan

Consulting Metallurgist LinkedIn Profile

Denis has over 40 years’ experience in mining, with vast exposure to most mineral processing environments. Most of Denis’s background is in senior university roles where he led substantial cutting-edge research programmes and taught at the WA School of Mines as Program Chair (Metallurgy). Denis is the author of 32 papers and the popular resource text in mineral processing, “Mineral Processing Design and Operations,” Elsevier Amsterdam, 2006.