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About the Lithium Ore

Lithium, recognized as the most strategically critical mineral in the global energy transition, is hailed as "white petroleum" and the "metal that drives the future. Its characteristics of low density, high electrochemical activity, and superior energy density position lithium ore resources as vital support for growth potential and technological breakthroughs in green energy investment.

  • surface salt lake brineSurface Salt Lake Brine
  • subsurface pore brineSubsurface Pore Brine
  • spodumeneSpodumene
  • lepidoliteLepidolite
  • petalitePetalite
  • oilfield brineOilfield Brine

Processing Technology

  • The selection of lithium ore beneficiation flowsheets is highly dependent on the ore's mineralogical characteristics (e.g., mineral types, associations, liberation size). Currently applied industrial lithium ore beneficiation methods can be summarized into the following mainstream process routes, chosen based on ore type and economic viability.

    • Spodumene Flotation Process

      • Lithium ore is processed through three-stage crushing to below 15mm, then ground in a closed-circuit ball mill to 60–80% passing 200 mesh. Following hydrocyclone desliming (<19 μm), flotation is conducted under alkaline conditions using NaOH, starch, and oxidized paraffin soap. The circuit typically employs a "Rougher-Scavenger-Cleaner" configuration with at least one rougher, two scavenger, and three cleaner stages. The concentrate is thickened, filtered, and dried to produce the final product.

    • Lepidolite Flotation Process

      • After crushing and grinding, an "acid scrubbing" step is often added to enhance slime removal and mineral surface cleaning. Flotation occurs under acidic conditions (pH 3-4), using sulfuric acid as a modifier, sodium silicate (water glass) as a depressant, and dodecylamine or similar amines as collectors. Multi-stage circuits (e.g., one rougher, multiple scavengers, multiple cleaners) are common. Concentrate Li?O grade is typically 3.0%-4.5% and often rich in rubidium (Rb) and cesium (Cs).

    • Petalite Gravity-Flotation

      • ROM ore is ground to a medium fineness. Gravity separation using jigs or shaking tables rejects large volumes of low-density gangue and provides a preliminary concentrate enriched in petalite and heavy minerals. The gravity concentrate undergoes high-intensity magnetic separation (HIMS) to remove iron impurities. The non-magnetic fraction is reground and floated (often using cationic or combined cationic/anionic collectors) to further remove silicate gangue.

    • Salt Lake Brine Lithium Extraction

      • Brine undergoes multi-stage evaporation in solar ponds, precipitating sodium and potassium salts sequentially, yielding concentrated lithium-rich brine. The bittern is purified to remove impurities (e.g., Mg, Ca, B). Sodium carbonate is then added to precipitate crude lithium carbonate. Further purification steps (dissolution, impurity removal, recrystallization) yield battery-grade product. Brines with high Mg/Li ratios often require pre-concentration steps like adsorption or membrane technologies.
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