Modern Mining November 2021

LITHIUM AND TANTALUM

Production potential for lithium and tantalum concentrates at Uis Following a by-product and metallurgical process development programme, AfriTin Mining reports that metallurgical test work results have confirmed the production potential of separate saleable lithium and tantalum concentrates from its current tin concentrate product at Uis Tin Mine. By Munesu Shoko .

A friTin Mining Limited (AIM: ATM), an African tech-metals mining company with a portfolio of mining and exploration assets in Namibia in tin, lithium and tantalum, with its flagship asset, the Uis Tin Mine in Namibia, has provided an update on its by-product and metallurgical process development programme. Density-based lithium beneficiation test work has achieved petalite concentrate grades in excess of 4% Li 2 O and within contaminant specifications for a typical saleable technical grade petalite product. Consequently, the company will proceed with the design and procurement of pilot lithium beneficia- tion facility. In addition, test work has been successful in producing a high-grade, saleable specification tan- talum concentrate (>24% Ta 2 O 5 ) and the company will proceed with the implementation of a tantalum concentrating circuit. Transforming overall project economics Anthony Viljoen, CEO of AfriTin, says the metallurgi- cal test work results confirm the production potential

Anthony Viljoen, CEO of AfriTin Mining Limited. of separate saleable lithium and tantalum concen- trates. Implementation of these by-product streams, he adds, could substantially transform the overall economics and unit cost of production for the cur- rent Phase 1 facility. “More importantly, it provides an outstanding

18  MODERN MINING  November 2021