Ioneer Ltd today announced a significant breakthrough in its sulphuric acid and reagent efficiency testwork for the 100%-owned Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, USA. This innovation promises to substantially reduce operating costs and increase production of critical minerals, lithium and boron, as the project moves closer to a Final Investment Decision (FID).

The Australian-listed emerging lithium-boron producer has been diligently focused on enhancing lithium yield – the amount of lithium carbonate produced per tonne of sulphuric acid consumed – and optimizing overall reagent efficiency at its flagship Rhyolite Ridge project. The recently confirmed testwork results indicate a remarkable 7-14% increase in the production of both lithium carbonate and boric acid for the same quantity of acid.

A key factor in achieving this heightened efficiency is a significant reduction in leach time, which is the duration required for the chemical extraction process. The overall vat cycle will be shortened by approximately 30%, decreasing from seven days to around six days. This accelerated leach cycle directly translates to an 8-16% increase in Run-of-Mine (ROM) throughput compared to the current Stage 1 design. This means the project can process more ore in less time, leading to a notable boost in overall mine production capacity.

The implications of this breakthrough are particularly timely and impactful for Ioneer. Reagents and transportation represent more than half of the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project's anticipated operating costs. Therefore, any improvement in reagent efficiency directly contributes to a substantial reduction in the project's operational expenditure. This cost-cutting achievement significantly strengthens the project's economic viability as Ioneer prepares for a Final Investment Decision.

It is important to note that the economic benefits stemming from these reduced leach cycle times are not yet incorporated into the updated economics for the project, which are expected to be released in the coming days. While the testwork for the reduced leach time is complete, Ioneer is currently undertaking work on an updated mine plan to fully account for the increased throughput capacity. The company anticipates that any increases to capital or operating costs associated with this optimization will be minimal.

The reagents critical to the Rhyolite Ridge process include sulphur, which is used for producing sulphuric acid; lime, employed for impurity removal; and soda ash, essential for the formation of lithium carbonate. Improvements in the utilization of these key inputs underscore Ioneer's commitment to efficient and cost-effective production, particularly given the volatile nature of lithium prices.