[SMM News] American Lithium Achieves Higher-Than-Expected Recovery Rates at Falchani Pilot Plant in Peru

September 15th Lithium Africa has defined a second spodumene trend at its Agboville Project in Côte d'Ivoire, with rock samples returning up to 1.98% lithium oxide (Li2O). The company reports 19 spodumene-bearing pegmatite samples from the Kanien trend, 14 above 1% Li2O, extending 2.8 km along a sheared muscovite granite within the licence. Kanien is the district's second primary spodumene trend, alongside the Saby trend, where trenching returned 8 m at 1.1% Li2O. CEO Thomas Benson said the results point to an emerging lithium district rather than isolated occurrences. Kanien lies along strike of spodumene samples up to 1.36% Li2O on an adjacent licence, together defining a spodumene pegmatite corridor of about 7 km across the licence boundary. The company holds about 485 km² of granted licence via a 50/50 joint venture, and has applied for the adjacent 368 km² Sikensi licence. A 2,000 m RC drilling program at Saby was paused for the rainy season after 1,137 m, with results targeted for Q4 2026. The Agboville licence covers 399.27 km², about 85 km north of Abidjan, adding a new West African exploration target to the global spodumene pipeline.

The Nevada North Lithium joint venture between Surge Battery Metals and Evolution Mining has produced 99.95% battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from project ore in the US, supporting a Prefeasibility Study for the project. Kemetco Research produced crude Li2CO3 assaying 99% from the Nevada North master composite via beneficiation, sulphuric acid leaching, solution purification, and carbonate precipitation. A portion was refined to the 99.95% battery-grade product. Leaching achieved lithium extractions above 93% at 475 kg acid per tonne of feed, rising to about 98% at higher acid addition, completing within one hour at 90°C. Attrition and screening recovered 98.9% of lithium into the fine fraction while rejecting about 75% of the acid consuming carbonate. CEO Greg Reimer said the work demonstrates the full chain from sedimentary clay to refined battery-grade product. Focus now shifts to pilot-scale testing of recovery, consistency, reagent consumption, and energy performance. Surge also holds the San Emidio Lithium Project in Nevada, adding a US clay-based lithium supply source to the market pipeline.

US lithium-ion battery recycling company Blue Whale Materials has achieved mechanical completion of its full processing line at its Bartlesville, Oklahoma facility, having begun commissioning earlier this month. The full line enables Blue Whale to process battery cells, modules, and packs through its Blacksand technology, a thermally treated black mass carrying nickel, cobalt, and lithium recovered from end-of-life batteries and production scrap. The milestone completes phase one of the company's Department of Energy expansion grant, raising yearly processing capacity from 14,000 t to 20,000 t of battery feedstock. CEO Jack Johnson said the line is now being brought to rate. Ara Partners partner Cory Steffek said the expanded capacity solidifies Blue Whale's position in the domestic critical minerals supply chain. Commissioning continues through year-end as the facility ramps to expanded capacity, adding domestic recycled-lithium supply to the US battery materials chain.