Cadence Minerals #KDNC – European Metals Holdings #EMH – Successful production of lithium hydroxide at Cinovec

Cadence Minerals (AIM: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to note the announcement by European Metals Holdings Limited (“European Metals” or “EMH”) (ASX & AIM: EMH, OTCQX: EMHXY, ERPNF and EMHLF) in regard to the Cinovec Lithium Project (“Cinovec” or the “Project”).

EMH has announced the successful production of lithium hydroxide monohydrate from pregnant leach solution manufactured during the recent larger scale Cinovec pilot programme.

Highlights:

• The pilot programme has confirmed viability of the Lithium Chemical Plant (“LCP”) process flowsheet for the industrial scale production of either lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
• Crude lithium carbonate from the pilot programme has been converted into exceptionally clean battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate at laboratory scale.
• The pilot programme processed ore is fully-representative in all respects of the run-of-mine for the first seven years of mining planned at Cinovec, including average grade and expected rock-type mix from the bulk mining.

The Cinovec LCP flowsheet produces a high purity lithium sulphate solution which is capable of being used to produce either lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide. The first stage (un-reprocessed) crude lithium carbonate produced is very close to battery grade and easily upgraded to battery grade in a single bicarbonation step (see the Company’s ASX/ AIM announcement of 9 November 2023 “Successful Battery-Grade pilot programme for Cinovec Lithium Project”).

The Cinovec LCP flowsheet lends itself to producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate either directly, or indirectly via re-processing the first stage crude lithium carbonate. The project team has assessed the relative industrial process risks of manufacturing battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate using both methods. It was concluded the indirect method was regarded as the lower-risk method, when considering process risks and costs.

This method of production of lithium hydroxide monohydrate has been tested as part of the pilot programme and has successfully produced battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate at a laboratory scale.

EMH Executive Chairman, Keith Coughlan commented: We are extremely pleased with the results from the lithium hydroxide test program.  The lithium hydroxide produced was of the highest grade possible and exceptionally clean. This, when combined with the ability to produce either battery grade lithium carbonate or hydroxide enables a wider range of offtakers for the Cinovec product.”

Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria added: “The Cadence management team are delighted to see EMH achieve another milestone step at Cinovec. In producing this high grade lithium hydroxide, the EMH team have opened up new offtake opportunities for the end product.”

Cinovec Lithium/Tin Project

Geomet s.r.o. controls the mineral exploration licenses awarded by the Czech State over the Cinovec Lithium/Tin Project. Geomet has been granted a preliminary mining permit by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Industry. The company is owned 49% by EMH and 51% by CEZ a.s. through its wholly owned subsidiary, SDAS. Cinovec hosts a globally significant hard rock lithium deposit with a total Measured Mineral Resource of 53.3Mt at 0.48% Li2O and 0.08% Sn, Indicated Mineral Resource of 360.2Mt at 0.44% Li2O and 0.05% Sn and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 294.7Mt at 0.39% Li2O and 0.05% Sn containing a combined 7.39 million tonnes Lithium Carbonate Equivalent and 335.1kt of tin.

Cadence Minerals holds approximately 3.2% per cent of the equity in European Metals Holdings.