Cypress Development Studies Chloride Leaching for Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada
December 03 2020 - 07:00AM
Cypress Development Corp. (
TSX-V:
CYP) (
OTCQB:
CYDVF) (
Frankfurt:
C1Z1) (“Cypress” or “the Company”) reports it is
initiating a scoping level study into the extraction of lithium
using chloride-based leaching. This decision follows the test
results reported in the Company’s November 24, 2020 news release.
The data indicates a higher rate of lithium extraction in leaching
claystone with hydrochloric acid than with sulfuric acid when in
the presence of high chloride levels. The Company has engaged NORAM
Engineering and Constructors Ltd. (NORAM) and Continental
Metallurgical Services Inc. (CMS) for the study which is expected
to be completed in January 2021.
“The purpose of this study is to quickly
determine if a change in direction is warranted,” said Cypress CEO
Bill Willoughby. “Cypress is a leader in the development of acid
leaching of lithium claystone. When presented with new information
suggesting a way to improve the project, we respond with evaluating
the new data to bring the best value to our shareholders. The work
by NORAM and CMS will determine if this is an alternative that
should be pursued and whether it replaces or augments the use of
sulfuric acid in our extraction process.”
Study Outlined
Cypress continues to work on the pilot plant as
recommended in the Company’s positive May 19, 2020 Prefeasibility
Study (PFS). The project is based on a surface mine producing
15,000 tonnes per day (tpd) of lithium-bearing claystone to a leach
plant yielding 27,400 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate
equivalent (LCE) over a 40-year mine life. Features including
favorable location, low strip ratio and low acid consumption result
in an estimated cash cost of $3,329 per tonne LCE. A basic PFS
assumption is the construction of a 2,500 tpd acid plant to support
the leaching and power needs of the project.
The Company reported in its November 24, 2020
news release testing resulted in 85.3% total extraction when using
hydrochloric acid to leach lithium-bearing claystone from the
project. This result was higher than the 80.2% lithium extraction
obtained when using sulfuric acid under the same conditions.
Conditions included using a high sodium chloride solution instead
of distilled water in leaching. The results were important in
demonstrating the ability to tolerate high chloride levels in the
process and flexibility in the water supply that could include
geothermal solutions and lithium-bearing brine. The higher level of
lithium extraction was confirmed in a subsequent test by CMS and
with multi-element analyses performed by ALS Global.
In the analyses to date, hydrochloric acid
digests significantly more of the clay. However, the processing
steps to purify and concentrate the leach solution are potentially
easier and lower cost. The scoping study will include a larger test
to provide more solution to confirm these steps. The study
deliverables will include mass balances and finalized flowsheets
for sulfate and chloride leaching in a high saline system. Also,
included will be scoping level estimates for power and other
consumables, and potential changes in project capital and operating
costs.
Pilot Plant Progress
Work toward the pilot plant program is the next
stage in the project’s development. The Company has reviewed
several locations for the testing and has narrowed its
consideration to two. Discussions are ongoing. Permit applications
are being prepared as required for the site and bulk sample
locations.
The Company reports nine months of baseline
environmental related studies were completed and are in the
reporting stage on Cypress’ property. No major environmental issues
were encountered by the Company’s consultants.
Newly received test results from NORAM confirmed
a high level of recovery of sulfuric acid from the process leach
solution. Results from this key step showed greater than 90% of the
free sulfuric acid in the solution after leaching, was successfully
recovered and available for recycling. The ability to recover and
recycle sulfuric acid in the process is a critical step. The PFS
has an allowance for minor losses of sulfuric acid. The results
from NORAM are within the PFS allowance and provide the information
needed for the acid recovery portion of the pilot plant.
The results of the scoping study may require the
revaluation of the recommendation in the PFS to include the use of
hydrochloric acid in place of, or in addition to sulfuric acid in
the pilot plant. The Company anticipates the purchasing and
assembling of the pilot plant will proceed upon completion of the
scoping study and its outcome. The Company anticipates completing
the pilot plant as planned.
Qualified Person:
Todd Fayram, MMSA-QP, is the qualified person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the
technical information in this release.
About Cypress Development
Corp.:
Cypress Development Corp. is a publicly traded
exploration company focused on developing the Company’s 100%-owned
Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada. Exploration and
development by Cypress discovered a world-class resource of
lithium-bearing claystone adjacent to the Albemarle Silver Peak
mine, North America's only lithium brine operation. The size of the
resource makes the Clayton Valley Project a premier source that has
the potential to impact the supply of lithium for the fast-growing
global energy storage battery market.
Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Nevada
claims
map:https://www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com/site/assets/files/3573/cyp_cm_series_drill_hole_map_2020.jpg
Cypress Development Corp. has approximately 98.7
million shares issued and outstanding.
To find out more about Cypress Development Corp.
(TSX-V: CYP), visit our website at
www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com.
CYPRESS DEVELOPMENT CORP.
“Dr. Bill
Willoughby”______________________________
WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, PhD., PEChief
Executive Officer
For further information contact myself or: Don MyersCypress
Development Corp.Director, Corporate CommunicationsTelephone:
604-639-3851Toll Free: 800-567-8181Facsimile: 604-687-3119Email:
info@cypressdevelopmentcorp.com
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS
REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
This release includes certain statements that
may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in
this release, other than statements of historical facts, that
address events or developments that management of the Company
expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management
believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are
not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to
update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs,
estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and
development successes, continued availability of capital and
financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.
Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for
further information.
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