Zinnwald23 Feb 2019 08:36
More lithium discovered in tin forest
New drilling results: Supplies are substantially higher than previously thought.
© Archive photo: E. Kamprath
By Franz Herz
Tin forest. In the earth under tin forest, significantly larger lithium reserves are stored than previously thought. Last year, Deutsche Lithium GmbH drove 15 drilling holes into the earth in Zinnwald. Even before that, in the years from 2012 to 2014, ten holes have been carried out in Zinnwald. In addition, results of studies from GDR times were evaluated. The result is now available. And overall, the experts come to the conclusion that 40 375,000 tonnes of ore are stored on the German side of Zinnwald with a lithium content of 124 974 tonnes. An initial investigation in 2014 had assumed 96 200 tonnes of lithium. On the other hand, it is an increase of about a third. Furthermore, 17 266 tons are still suspected, but these have not yet been captured by drilling. This is according to a notice from Bacanora Lithium.
This Canadian company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, owns half of the shares in Deutsche Lithium GmbH. The other half belongs to the Solarworld group, which is in insolvency proceedings. Solarworld launched the lithium project in Zinnwald in 2010 and was granted a licence to investigate the stockpiles in 2011. However, the group then ran into economic difficulties. In 2017, Bacanora took half the stake in the lithium project, renamed it Deutsche Lithium GmbH and has had the wheel in hand ever since.
The new evaluation has now been carried out to Canadian standards. But local experts from the Geos Engineering Company in Freiberg were tasked with this. Here, geologists Kersten Kühn and Matthias Helbig are responsible for this. In addition, Thomas Dittrich, a geologist at the German Lithium, worked on it. The independent reviewer Wolf-Dietrich Bock from Baden-Württemberg finally checked that the results are up to standard.
Commenting on the new results from Zinnwald, Peter Secker, Managing Director of Bacanora and Deutsche Lithium, said: "This increase confirms the status of Zinnwald as one of the most advanced lithium projects in Europe. Its strategic location in the midst of Germany's important battery and automotive industry is ideal for becoming one of the major suppliers of high-quality lithium products to Europe's fast-growing electric car and energy storage industry. "
The new values are part of a feasibility study that is in the works for Zinnwald. Parts have already been completed. So far, the ore stockpile has been investigated. Attempts were also completed to concentrate and roast the material. Other trials with the nascent chemistry are still ongoing, Bacanora continues to inform. In addition, work is being carried on mining planning and technical planning of the facilities. All of these investigations and preparations will be completed in the coming months. The final feasibility study is due in the second quarter of next year.
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