detecting the undetectable: lithium by portable xrf · detecting the undetectable: lithium by...
TRANSCRIPT
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Mineral Exploration and Mining
Detecting the Undetectable: Lithium by Portable XRF
Dr Nigel Brand1,2 & Christabel Brand3
1Geochemical Services Pty Ltd
03 Thursday
2017
Bigsky Montana
2Adjunct Senior Research Fellow: University of Western Australia
Talk: S3 August
2APortable XRF Services Pty Ltd
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Lithium by pXRF
• Portable XRF (pXRF) can detect down to Mg (Z12).
• pXRF cannot detect lithium (Z3) directly
• Lithium is derived from 2 main sources
– Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum pegmatites (LCT Pegmatites)
– Lithium bearing brines associated with salt lakes
• pXRF can detect elements associated with LCT Pegmatites (Ga, Rb, Nb, Sn, Cs, Ta & Tl)
• an algorithm based on associated LCT elements is used to estimate the Li content (Lithium Index)
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Which is predicted pXRF Li?
Predicted Li from pXRF
Conventional Four Acid
200 x 50m grid n = 207
A
B
85
0m
Both images are derived from the SAME samples Laboratory Li, predicted Li from pXRF instrument
High
Low
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Why Lithium?
Goldman Sachs has called Lithium .. “the New Gasoline”
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ASX : SYA 10/16
Why Lithium?
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by 2020 ~20 million EV & hybrid cars
Battery Mega-factories Projected Li demand to 2025
ASX: KDR 07/17
Battery market will be 2x bigger than entire Li market today. ASX: KDR 07/17
Projected Li Consumption 2025
ASX KDR 07/17
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Impact on company value
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LCT Pegmatite Model – element distribution The element associations provides a potential vector to LCT mineralisation.
Source: London, 2008
Ga, Tl, Rb, Sn
Key
LC
T P
egm
atit
e El
eme
nts
Li
, Be,
Cs,
Ga,
Nb
, Rb
, Sn
, Ta,
Tl
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LCT Pegmatite elements
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Detecting the undeletable
• pXRF can detect elements associated with LCT Pegmatites.
• Derive an algorithm to estimation of the Li content – the Lithium Index.
• Use EasyCal on Bruker S1 Titan to develop a fundamental calibration “Lithium Index calibration”
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Predicting Li (index)
Non blind test
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ARC103060
10 20 30
- keV -
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
x 1E3 Pulses
Tl Tl Sn Sn Ga Ga Rb Rb Nb
Nb
Ta Ta Cs Cs
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Laboratory assay data (four acid)
Predicting lithium concentration (pXRF data).
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Lithium (calculated)
ROCKS SOILS
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Lab vs BpXRF
ROCKS SOILS
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Blind Tests
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CASE STUDY 1: Poseidon
• A: Blind pXRF test on rock chip samples from Lake Johnstone
• B: Blind pXRF test on soil samples from Lake Johnston
Lake Johnstone
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Blind test 1 (rocks) Li assay vs Li Index (BpXRF)
R2 = 0.99
“This is an exceptional outcome giving Poseidon confidence to apply cost effect and rapid analysis
techniques on site” (POS: ASX 21st July 2016).
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CASE STUDY 1: Soils
LITHIUM TARGETS GENERATED AT LAKE JOHNSTON (ASX:POS 12/10/2016)
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CASE STUDY 2: Pioneer Resources • Blind test conducted on -
250um soil samples collected over an LCT Pegmatite prospect (PEG008)
• Blind test conducted on –drill samples from LCT Pegmatite (PEG008)
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CASE STUDY 3 (soils) Li assay vs Li –index (BpXRF)
“Pioneer considers…… to being cost efficient, it ensures very rapid
information turn-around”. (PIO: ASX
27th July 2016).
r2 = 0.84
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LCT Pegmatite (drilling)
Lithium Index (pXRF) Lithium (Lab)
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LCT Pegmatite (drilling)
Caesium (pXRF) Caesium (Lab)
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Pioneer Dome Status
ASX:PIO 31/01/17 7200 samples completed Rank LCT pegmatite targets based on model Confirm with wet chemistry
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CASE STUDY 3: Mincor Resources • Blind test conducted on -
250um soil samples collected over an unknown Pegmatite corridor.
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LCT Pegmatite Corridor: Widgie
MCR: ASX 18th January 2017
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Li Index
Li ppm
WID001
R2 = 0.73
Blind Test 3 (soils) Li assay vs Li –index (BpXRF) “The results from initial soil programs have identified multiple LCT Pegmatite
bodies…..the results confirm the interpretation of a major LCT corridor of significant strike length on Mincor's tenements”. (MCR: ASX 18th January 2017).
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Summary
• BpXRF provides “fit for purpose” data on elements associated with LCT Pegmaites (Ga, Rb, Nb, Sn, Cs, Ta, Tl) and can satisfactorily predict Lithium concentrations.
– Implication: significant saving during exploration and exploitation of LCT pegmatite systems.
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Word of Caution
Minerals have a fundamental bearing on the element response of an LCT
Systems
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Lepidolite rich system
Spodumene rich system
Petalite / Spodumene – lepidolite system
Li Systems: Rock data only
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Li (ppm) vs “Lithium Spodumene Index”
The pXRF “Lithium Index” provides an adequate field guide for a lithium value and is considered “fit for purpose” yet requiring additional field trial.
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Acknowledgements
Bruker: Providing training on EasyCal and calibration support
Bruker Authorised Application Centre (Perth) Undertaken the “Lithium Index Calibration”
Pioneer, Poseidon, and Mincor for permission to publish their data
Numerous unnamed public & private companies who have assisted along the way
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