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Brazil

Grota do Cirilo Phase 1 - Xuxa Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Lithium
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
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SnapshotSigma is taking a phased approach to its Grota do Cirilo project operations, with production at its Phase 1 Greentech Plant and associated Xuxa mine which began operations in April 2023. At 270,000 tonnes per annum of 5.5% spodumene concentrate production capacity, Phase 1 has positioned the Company as a globally relevant, Tier 1, concentrate producer. The Company plans to expand its production footprint through the buildout of Phase 2 and ultimately Phase 3 Greentech Plants, which is expected to nearly triple production from current levels. The existing shared infrastructure built with the Phase 1 Greentech Plant is expected to support these two additional production lines, with each of the phases designed to follow a similar workstream as demonstrated at Phase 1.
Related AssetGrota do Cirilo Phase 2 - Barreiro Project

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Sigma Lithium Resources Corp. 100 % Indirect
Sigma Mineração S.A. (SMSA) is the Brazilian subsidiary of Sigma and is the owner of the mining rights and the holder of mining concessions ordinance which includes the Xuxa, Barrerio, Murial, Lavra do Meio and Nezinho do Chicao deposits.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Pegmatite

Summary:

DEPOSIT TYPES
The deposits within the Project area are considered to be examples of LCT-type pegmatites.

LCT pegmatites represent the most highly differentiated and last to crystallize components of certain granitic melts. Parental granites are typically peraluminous, S-type granites, although some Archean examples are metaluminous, I-type granites. LCT pegmatites are enriched in the incompatible elements lithium, cesium, tin, rubidium, and tantalum, and are distinguished from other rare-element pegmatites by this diagnostic suite of elements. The dikes typically occur in groups, which consist of tens to hundreds of individual pegmatites and cover areas up to a few tens of square kilometres. LCT pegmatites are known to form as far as 10 km from the parental granite and the more distal the pegmatite, frequently the more fractionated. The most highly fractionated rareelement-enriched pegmatites only constitute 1–2% of regional pegmatite populations.

PROPERTY GEOLOGY
The host rock for the Xuxa pegmatite body is a biotite–quartz schist with a well-developed crenulation cleavage. Pegmatite xenoliths have been observed within the schist, with sizes ranging from a few centimetres to a metre. The pegmatite/schist contact is frequently hornfelsed.

The pegmatite is concordant with the regional foliation, striking northwest–southeast and dipping at 45–55º to the southeast. Drill data indicate the pegmatite has a strike length of 1,700 m, averages 12-13 m in thickness, and can reach as much as 20 m thick. It has been drill tested to 259 m vertical depth. It remains open to the west, east, and at depth.

Pegmatite mineralogy consists of the following minerals, with their approximate vein content: spodumene (20%), microcline and albite (40–45%), quartz (30%) and muscovite (5%). Spodumene occurs as pale green to colourless, elongated, tabular, crystals that can range in size from millimetre to as much as 80 cm in length and be as wide as 10 cm. The spodumene laths are set in a medium- to very coarse-grained groundmass of colourless albite, translucent quartz and pale grey perthitic microcline. Pale yellow– green medium- to coarse-grained muscovite micas may be present. Poikilitic textures of spodumene and quartz are common. Tantalite–columbite and cassiterite can occur in association with albite.

The Xuxa pegmatite dike is found on both sides of the Piaui River but does not crop out in the river valley. Two drill holes were angled to pass below the Piaui River, with one hole drilled from each bank. The drill holes intercepted pegmatite at depth. Core logging showed the spodumene to be weathered and contain replacement textures. The current interpretation is that the Piaui River occupy a fault trace, and that the interpreted fault has thinned the pegmatite body in that location.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

On April 17, 2023 the Company announced that it had initiated production of spodumene concentrate from its Phase 1 Greentech Plant.
CommodityProductUnits2023
Spodumene Concentrate kt  ....  Subscribe
Li2O Concentrate kt  ....  Subscribe
Spodumene Mineral in concentrate kt
Lithium Carbonate t

Operational metrics

Metrics2023
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Financials

Units2023
Revenue M CAD  ....  Subscribe
Gross profit M CAD  ....  Subscribe
After-tax Income M CAD  ....  Subscribe
EBITDA M CAD  ....  Subscribe

Required Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

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Aerial view:

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