LIFT Reports Preliminary Lithium Conversion Testwork Results for the Yellowknife Lithium Project
Li-FT Power (LIFFF) has announced promising results from preliminary lithium conversion testwork conducted in 2025 on spodumene concentrate from its Yellowknife Lithium Project. The tests, performed at SGS Canada, achieved up to 98% lithium extraction under typical operating conditions.
The testwork was conducted on a DMS concentrate sample from the Big East deposit, which contained 5.60% Li2O and 0.65% Fe2O3. The mineralogical composition showed 70% spodumene content. The testing program included calcination, sulphuric acid mixing and roasting, and water leaching processes.
Key findings revealed optimal lithium extraction at calcination temperatures above 1050°C with a 30-minute residence time. The process yielded lithium concentrations in solutions up to 19,600 mg/L, demonstrating the project's potential as a future source of high-quality lithium for the North American battery supply chain.
Li-FT Power (LIFFF) ha annunciato risultati promettenti dai test preliminari di conversione del litio condotti nel 2025 su concentrato di spodumene proveniente dal suo Yellowknife Lithium Project. I test, eseguiti presso SGS Canada, hanno raggiunto fino al 98% di estrazione del litio in condizioni operative standard.
Il lavoro di test è stato effettuato su un campione di concentrato DMS dal deposito Big East, contenente 5,60% di Li2O e 0,65% di Fe2O3. La composizione mineralogica mostrava un contenuto di spodumene del 70%. Il programma di test comprendeva processi di calcinazione, miscelazione con acido solforico e tostatura, seguiti da lisciviazione in acqua.
I risultati principali hanno evidenziato un’estrazione ottimale del litio a temperature di calcinazione superiori a 1050°C con un tempo di permanenza di 30 minuti. Il processo ha prodotto concentrazioni di litio nelle soluzioni fino a 19.600 mg/L, dimostrando il potenziale del progetto come futura fonte di litio di alta qualità per la catena di approvvigionamento delle batterie in Nord America.
Li-FT Power (LIFFF) ha anunciado resultados prometedores de las pruebas preliminares de conversión de litio realizadas en 2025 sobre concentrado de espodumena de su Yellowknife Lithium Project. Las pruebas, realizadas en SGS Canadá, lograron hasta un 98% de extracción de litio bajo condiciones operativas típicas.
El trabajo de prueba se llevó a cabo en una muestra de concentrado DMS del depósito Big East, que contenía 5,60% de Li2O y 0,65% de Fe2O3. La composición mineralógica mostró un 70% de contenido de espodumena. El programa de pruebas incluyó procesos de calcinación, mezcla con ácido sulfúrico y tostado, y lixiviación con agua.
Los hallazgos clave revelaron una extracción óptima de litio a temperaturas de calcinación superiores a 1050°C con un tiempo de residencia de 30 minutos. El proceso produjo concentraciones de litio en soluciones de hasta 19.600 mg/L, demostrando el potencial del proyecto como una futura fuente de litio de alta calidad para la cadena de suministro de baterías en Norteamérica.
Li-FT Power (LIFFF)는 2025년에 진행된 Yellowknife Lithium Project의 스포듐 농축물에 대한 예비 리튬 전환 시험에서 유망한 결과를 발표했습니다. SGS 캐나다에서 수행된 시험은 일반적인 운영 조건에서 최대 98% 리튬 추출을 달성했습니다.
시험은 Big East 광상에서 채취한 DMS 농축물 샘플을 대상으로 진행되었으며, 이 샘플은 5.60% Li2O와 0.65% Fe2O3를 포함하고 있었습니다. 광물학적 조성은 70%의 스포듐 함량을 나타냈습니다. 시험 프로그램에는 소성, 황산 혼합 및 로스팅, 그리고 수침 공정이 포함되었습니다.
주요 결과는 1050°C 이상의 소성 온도와 30분 체류 시간에서 최적의 리튬 추출을 보여주었습니다. 이 공정은 용액 내 리튬 농도를 최대 19,600 mg/L까지 도달시켜 북미 배터리 공급망을 위한 고품질 리튬의 미래 공급원으로서 프로젝트의 잠재력을 입증했습니다.
Li-FT Power (LIFFF) a annoncé des résultats prometteurs issus des tests préliminaires de conversion du lithium réalisés en 2025 sur un concentré de spodumène provenant de son projet Yellowknife Lithium. Les tests, effectués chez SGS Canada, ont atteint jusqu'à 98% d'extraction du lithium dans des conditions opératoires classiques.
Les essais ont été menés sur un échantillon de concentré DMS du gisement Big East, contenant 5,60% de Li2O et 0,65% de Fe2O3. La composition minéralogique montrait une teneur en spodumène de 70%. Le programme de tests comprenait des étapes de calcination, de mélange avec de l'acide sulfurique et de torréfaction, ainsi que des procédés de lixiviation à l'eau.
Les résultats clés ont révélé une extraction optimale du lithium à des températures de calcination supérieures à 1050°C avec un temps de séjour de 30 minutes. Le procédé a permis d’obtenir des concentrations de lithium dans les solutions allant jusqu’à 19 600 mg/L, démontrant le potentiel du projet comme source future de lithium de haute qualité pour la chaîne d'approvisionnement en batteries nord-américaine.
Li-FT Power (LIFFF) hat vielversprechende Ergebnisse aus vorläufigen Lithium-Umwandlungstests bekannt gegeben, die 2025 an Spodumenkonzentrat aus seinem Yellowknife Lithium Projekt durchgeführt wurden. Die Tests, durchgeführt bei SGS Kanada, erreichten unter typischen Betriebsbedingungen bis zu 98% Lithiumextraktion.
Die Testarbeiten wurden an einer DMS-Konzentratprobe aus der Big East Lagerstätte durchgeführt, die 5,60% Li2O und 0,65% Fe2O3 enthielt. Die mineralogische Zusammensetzung zeigte einen Spodumenanteil von 70%. Das Testprogramm umfasste Kalzinierung, Vermischung mit Schwefelsäure und Röstung sowie Wasserlaugungsprozesse.
Wesentliche Erkenntnisse zeigten eine optimale Lithiumextraktion bei Kalzinierungstemperaturen über 1050°C mit einer Verweilzeit von 30 Minuten. Der Prozess erzielte Lithiumkonzentrationen in Lösungen von bis zu 19.600 mg/L und demonstrierte das Potenzial des Projekts als zukünftige Quelle für hochwertiges Lithium für die nordamerikanische Batterielieferkette.
- Achieved excellent lithium extraction rate of up to 98%
- High-grade concentrate with 5.60% Li2O content
- Strong spodumene concentration of 70% in the sample
- Achieved high lithium concentrations up to 19,600 mg/L in solution
- None.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 24, 2025) - Li-FT Power Ltd. (TSXV: LIFT) (OTCQX: LIFFF) (FSE: WS0) ("LIFT" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from preliminary laboratory lithium conversion testwork completed in 2025 on a spodumene concentrate sample from material from the Yellowknife Lithium Project, Northwest Territories, Canada. Metallurgical testwork comprised the calcination, sulphuric acid mixing and roasting, and water leaching tests which were undertaken at SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS") in Lakefield, Ontario. Testing was completed on a DMS concentrate sample produced from pegmatite material from the Big East (BigE) deposit (see press release dated September 23, 2024). The conversion test work showed excellent results with up to
Summary of Results
Francis MacDonald, CEO of LIFT comments, "We are very pleased with the results of this preliminary lithium conversion test work, which demonstrated lithium extraction rates of up to
Details of the Metallurgical Program
Preliminary lithium conversion testing was completed on a DMS concentrate sample produced from pegmatite material from the Big East deposit (see press release dated September 23, 2024). Lithium chemical analysis of the concentrate sample was performed by sodium peroxide fusion digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma optical spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Whole rock analysis (WRA) was performed by borate fusion and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Elemental composition of the DMS spodumene concentrate sample tested is presented in Table 1. The spodumene concentrate sample graded
Table 1: Chemical analysis of the spodumene concentrate sample
| Component | Composition (%) |
| Li Li2O Fe2O3 SiO2 Al2O3 MgO CaO Na2O K2O MnO | 2.60 5.60 0.65 67.1 23.8 0.11 0.12 1.02 0.74 0.10 |
The mineralogical composition of the spodumene concentrate sample was determined using the semi-quantitative Rietveld refinement method based on X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) results and are shown in Table 2. The spodumene concentrate sample contained
Table 2: Spodumene concentrate sample mineralogy
| Mineral | Composition (%) |
| Spodumene | 70.0 |
| Quartz | 15.4 |
| Albite | 8.7 |
| Muscovite | 3.9 |
| Orthoclase | 1.2 |
| Biotite | 0.7 |
| Magnetite | 0.1 |
| Total | 100 |
Testwork Scope
The conversion testwork program included:
- Calcination;
- Sulphuric acid mixing and Roasting;
- Water leaching.
The objective of calcination is to convert alpha-spodumene into the leachable beta- and/or gamma-phases. The conversion process increases the volume and the surface area of the material, weakening its crystal structure allowing for subsequent lithium extraction (leaching). For calcination, roughly 400 g of spodumene concentrate was placed in a crucible and heated to temperatures ranging from 1000°C to 1100°C in a laboratory furnace (Figure 1).
Calcined samples were ground to roughly 150 µm. In order to confirm conversion and quantify metal extractions, calcined samples underwent acid mixing followed by roasting in laboratory furnace, at 250°C. The objective of acid mixing and roasting is to convert the lithium in the spodumene to lithium sulphate. Water leaching tests were then completed on the lithium sulphate samples at 60°C for 60 minutes, with results reported in Table 3. The water leaching setup is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Muffle furnace used for calcination (left) and the water leaching laboratory setup.
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Test work Results
Figure 2 shows an example image of the spodumene concentrate before and after calcination.
Figure 2: Example images of spodumene concentrate (left) and calcination product (right).
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Table 3 summarizes the water leaching test results and shows lithium extractions and compositions of the pregnant leach solution (PLS). Lithium concentrations in solutions were up to 19,600 mg/L with typical impurities present (e.g., aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium).
Table 3: Summary of Water leaching test results
| Parameter | Units | Test | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Calcination Temp. | °C | 1000 | 1050 | 1050 | 1100 |
| Residence Time | min. | 30 | 30 | 15 | 30 |
| Lithium Extraction | % | 79 | 98 | 96 | 98 |
| PLS Concentrations | |||||
| Li Al Fe Mg Ca Na K Mn | mg/L | 15,900 4,000 845 78 385 1340 565 275 | 19,100 3590 535 42 326 1640 484 163 | 19,600 4200 622 55 363 1530 534 180 | 19,600 3750 514 37 322 1860 528 145 |
Figure 3 shows the effect of calcination time and temperature on water leaching lithium extraction. At calcination temperatures above 1050°C (typical industrial conversion conditions) and residence time of 30 minutes, lithium extraction reached
Figure 3: Impact of calcination time and temperature and leach extraction.
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The preliminary testwork results show that spodumene concentrate produced from the Yellowknife Lithium project is amenable to conversion under typical operating parameters.
Qualified Person
The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding LIFT's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Jarrett Quinn, Ph.D., P.Eng, Process Director, Synectiq Inc., and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and member in good standing of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) (Registration number: 5018119).
About LIFT
LIFT is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of lithium pegmatite projects located in Canada. The Company's flagship project is the Yellowknife Lithium Project located in Northwest Territories, Canada. LIFT also holds three early-stage exploration properties in Quebec, Canada with excellent potential for the discovery of buried lithium pegmatites, as well as the Cali Project in Northwest Territories within the Little Nahanni Pegmatite Group.
For further information, please contact:
Francis MacDonald
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: + 1.604.609.6185
Email: investors@li-ft.com
Website: www.li-ft.com
Daniel Gordon
Investor Relations
Tel: +1.604.609.6185
Email: investors@li-ft.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release.
Forward-Looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest annual information form filed on March 21, 2025, which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-Looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
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FAQ
What lithium extraction rate did LIFFF achieve in its recent testwork at Yellowknife?
What is the Li2O grade in LIFFF's Big East deposit concentrate?
What lithium concentration did LIFFF achieve in its leaching solutions?
What is the spodumene content in LIFFF's concentrate from Yellowknife?
