Overview
Stage | Permitting |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
- Lithium
- Spodumene
- Quartz
- Feldspar
- Mica
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Dewatering
- Dry Screening
- Calcining
- Flotation
- Concentrate leach
- Dense media separation
- Magnetic separation
- Dissolving & Crystallising
- Ion Exchange (IX)
|
Mine Life | 20 years (as of Jan 1, 2021) |
The Study confirms that Carolina Lithium will be one of the world’s largest and lowestcost producers of lithium hydroxide. |
Latest News | Piedmont Lithium Releases Bankable Feasibility Study for Carolina Lithium Project December 14, 2021 |
Source:
p. 8
Piedmont holds a 100% interest in the Carolina Lithium Project
Summary:
The mineralised pegmatites are thought to be concurrent and cross-cutting dike swarms extending from the Cherryville granite. As the dikes progressed further from their sources, they became increasingly enriched in incompatible elements such as lithium (Li) and tin (Sn). The dikes are considered to be unzoned.
Within the Project, spodumene pegmatites are hosted in a fine to medium grained, weakly to moderately foliated, biotite, hornblende, quartz feldspar gneiss or commonly referred to as amphibolite. The spodumene pegmatites range from fine grained (aplite) to very coarse-grained pegmatite with primary mineralogy consisting of spodumene, quartz, plagioclase, potassium-feldspar and muscovite.
Three main zones of mineralisation have been extensively drilled leading to Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource classifications. The largest is in the western portion of the property, known as the B-G Corridor, where close spaced drilling has identified mineralisation for 1,400 metres along strike and to a depth of 150 to 200 metres below surface. This corridor accounts for 54% of the total resource reported.
The F Corridor is the second largest area of mineralisation and accounts for 30% of the total resource reported. This corridor is located along the eastern portion of the property and also consists of multiple pegmatite dikes, these dikes have been drilled for 750 metres along strike and 150 to 200 metres below surface.
The third area, known as the S Corridor, is divided into two zones of mineralisation and accounts for the remaining 16% of the total resource reported.
Summary:
Independent consultants Marshall Miller and Associates used SimSched™ software to generate a series of economic pit shells using the updated Mineral Resource block model and input parameters as agreed by Piedmont. Overall slope angles in rock were estimated following a preliminary geotechnical analysis that utilized fracture orientation data from oriented core and downhole geophysics (Acoustic Televiewer), as well as laboratory analysis of intact rock strength. The preliminary geotechnical assessment involved both kinematic and overall slope analyses utilizing Rocscience™ modeling software.
Overall slope angles of 45 degrees were assumed for overburden and oxide material. Overall slope angles of 53 degrees were estimated for fresh material which includes a ramp width of 30 meters. Production schedules were prepared for the Project based on the following parameters:
- A targeted run-of-mine production of 1.95 Mt/y targeting concentrator output of about 248,000 t/y of SC6
- Mining dilution of 10%
- Mine recovery of 100%
- Concentrator processing recovery of 80%
- Mine sequence targets maximized utilization of Indicated Mineral Resources at the front end of the schedule.
The results reported are based upon a scenario which maximizes extraction of Indicated Resources in the early years of production. Indicated resources represent 100% of the tonnes processed in years 1-3 of operations. The results reported assume that the Core property is mined from year 1-17 with the Central property mined in years 17-19 and the Huffstetler property mined in years 19-20.
Flow Sheet:
Crusher / Mill Type | Model | Size | Power | Quantity |
Ball mill
|
|
|
|
1
|
Processing
- Dewatering
- Dry Screening
- Calcining
- Flotation
- Concentrate leach
- Dense media separation
- Magnetic separation
- Dissolving & Crystallising
- Ion Exchange (IX)
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
Piedmont engaged SGS Canada Inc. in Lakefield, Ontario to undertake testwork on variability and composite samples. Dense Medium Separation (“DMS”) and locked-cycle flotation tests produced high-quality spodumene concentrate with a grade above 6.0% Li 2 O, iron oxide below 1.0%, and low impurities from composite samples. The feed grade of the composite sample was 1.11% Li 2 O.
This Study assumes a spodumene recovery of 80% when targeting a 6.0% Li 2 O spodumene concentrate product. The Company is currently undertaking additional variability sample testing concurrent with ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) activities.
The production of bulk quartz and feldspar concentrates as by-products from the spodumene locked-cycle flotation tailings was investigated. Six individual batch tests were conducted with the quartz and feldspar concentrates being composited. Additional by-product testwork in conjunction with DFS is ongoing.
The concentrator proces ........

Reserves at June 8, 2021:
The by-product Mineral Resource estimates are reported at a 0.4% Li 2 O cut-off grade.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Indicated
|
21.6 Mt
|
Quartz
|
29.4 %
|
6.34 Mt
|
Indicated
|
21.6 Mt
|
Feldspar
|
45 %
|
9.69 Mt
|
Indicated
|
21.6 Mt
|
Mica
|
4.2 %
|
0.9 Mt
|
Indicated
|
21.6 Mt
|
LCE
|
|
597,000 t
|
Indicated
|
21.6 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.12 %
|
241,000 t
|
Inferred
|
17.6 Mt
|
Quartz
|
29.3 %
|
5.16 Mt
|
Inferred
|
17.6 Mt
|
Feldspar
|
45.9 %
|
8.08 Mt
|
Inferred
|
17.6 Mt
|
Mica
|
4.1 %
|
0.73 Mt
|
Inferred
|
17.6 Mt
|
LCE
|
|
449,000 t
|
Inferred
|
17.6 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.03 %
|
241,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
39.2 Mt
|
Quartz
|
29.4 %
|
11.5 Mt
|
Total Resource
|
39.2 Mt
|
Feldspar
|
45.4 %
|
17.77 Mt
|
Total Resource
|
39.2 Mt
|
Mica
|
4.2 %
|
1.63 Mt
|
Total Resource
|
39.2 Mt
|
LCE
|
|
1,046,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
39.2 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.09 %
|
422,000 t
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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News:
News | Date |
Piedmont Lithium Releases Bankable Feasibility Study for Carolina Lithium Project
|
December 14, 2021
|
Piedmont Increases Mineral Resources With Completion of Phase 5 Infill Drilling
|
October 21, 2021
|
Piedmont Submits Application for North Carolina Mine Permit and Draft Application for U.S. Department of Energy Loan
|
September 1, 2021
|
Piedmont Lithium: Carolina Lithium permitting update
|
August 9, 2021
|
Piedmont Lithium Corporate Update
|
August 2, 2021
|
Piedmont Lithium Makes Presentation to Gaston County Commissioners and Community
|
July 21, 2021
|
Scoping update highlights the exceptional economics and industry-leading sustainability of Piedmont’s Carolina Lithium Project
|
June 9, 2021
|
Piedmont Focused on Increased Sustainability With 40% Increase in Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica Mineral Resources
|
June 8, 2021
|
Piedmont Lithium Announces Results Of Scheme Meeting
|
April 29, 2021
|
Piedmont Increases Lithium Resources By 40%
|
April 8, 2021
|
Piedmont Appoints Primero Group as Preferred EPC and Operations Contractor
|
June 23, 2020
|
Hatch Appointed to Deliver PFS for Piedmont’s Lithium Hydroxide Project in North Carolina
|
December 4, 2019
|
Piedmont Lithium Receives Federal Permit to Develop Mine
|
November 25, 2019
|
Piedmont Lithium: Updated Scoping Study Extends Project Life and Enhances Exceptional Economics
|
August 7, 2019
|
Piedmont Lithium June 2019 Quarterly Report
|
July 30, 2019
|
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