Rio Tinto ( ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) launched an preliminary mineral sources and ore reserves report for its 100% owned Argentina-based Rincon challenge on Wednesday (December 4).
Mineral sources inclusive of ore reserves comprise 1.54 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equal within the measured class, with 7.75 million tonnes within the indicated class and a pair of.29 million tonnes within the inferred class.
Possible ore reserves are made up of two.07 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equal.
Rincon was acquired by Rio Tinto from Rincon Mining in March 2022. It’s positioned within the Lithium Triangle of Argentina’s Salta province, which hosts greater than half of the world’s lithium reserves.
A feasibility research for the property outlines full-scale manufacturing of roughly 53,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate yearly over a 40 12 months mine life. Topic to allowing, Rio Tinto plans to develop manufacturing on the web site to 60,000 tonnes per 12 months through debottlenecking and enchancment packages.
The corporate expects to make a ultimate funding choice on full-scale operations at Rincon towards the tip of 2024.
A pilot battery-grade lithium carbonate plant with a capability of three,000 tonnes is at the moment in growth. In accordance with the corporate, it’s scheduled for completion within the first half of 2025.
Argentina’s lithium reserves are the third largest on this planet, standing at 3.6 million tonnes. The nation can also be the fourth largest lithium producer on this planet, producing 9,600 tonnes of the steel in 2023.
Don’t overlook to observe us @INN_Australia for real-time information updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, maintain no direct funding curiosity in any firm talked about on this article.