RE: Piedmont Hard Spodumene Rock US Lithium mine18 Jan 2021 15:35
One of four such projects globally, Piedmont Lithium is the only project in the United States focused on spodumene conversion for the American electric vehicle and battery storage markets.
Operating Within the World-Class Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt
The Piedmont Lithium Project is located within the world-class Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt (TSB) and along trend to the Hallman Beam and Kings Mountain mines, historically providing most of the western world’s lithium from the 1950s through the 1980s. The TSB has been described as one of the largest lithium regions in the world and is located approximately 25 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Our core landholding currently consists of 1199 acres and we are actively and aggressively adding further options to considerably expand our presence in the region.
U.S. Domestic Lithium Raw Material Supply of Historical Significance
The Piedmont Lithium Project, which consists of options over an initial core landholding is focused on an area that has been explored for lithium dating back to the 1950’s where it was originally explored by Lithium Corporation of America, which was subsequently acquired by FMC Corporation.
Albemarle and FMC continue to operate two of the most important lithium processing facilities which are situated on these sites as a result of the rich deposits of lithium contained in the TSB. These facilities are now at the forefront of lithium research and development with FMC maintaining the Center for Lithium Energy Advanced Research (“CLEAR”) lab in Bessemer City, proximal to the Project. FMC’s Bessemer City lithium processing facility is approximately 14 kilometres from the Project whilst Albemarle’s Kings Mountain lithium processing facility is approximately 17 kilometres from the Project.
The Company is in a unique position to leverage its position as a first mover in restarting exploration in this historic lithium producing region with the aim of developing a strategic, U.S. domestic source of lithium to supply the increasing electric vehicle and battery storage markets.