Low Iron Contamination Boosts Eastern Resources’ Lithium Project Prospects

Promising Metallurgical Results from Lepidolite Hill

Eastern Resources Limited (ASX: EFE) has unveiled encouraging preliminary metallurgical test work results from its Lepidolite Hill Lithium Project in Western Australia. The tests, conducted by the independent metallurgical laboratory Nagrom, demonstrated an 80.5% recovery of lithium oxide (Li2O) to a lepidolite concentrate grading 3.75% Li2O. Notably, the concentrate contained minimal iron contamination, with Fe2O3 levels as low as 0.07%, a critical factor for downstream lithium processing.

The metallurgical program employed a combination of magnetic separation and conventional multi-stage flotation techniques, which are industry standards for beneficiation of lithium-bearing minerals. The flotation process was optimized to handle fine particle sizes, achieving recoveries between 80% and 82%. This outcome suggests the Lepidolite Hill ore is amenable to commercial lithium concentrate production.

Strategic Location and Resource Potential

The Lepidolite Hill Project is strategically situated within the Southern Yilgarn lithium belt, approximately 18 km south-southwest of Coolgardie and 32 km west of the Mt Marion Lithium mine, a well-established lithium operation. Historical mining at Lepidolite Hill in the 1970s focused on lepidolite and petalite, and recent exploration drilling in 2024 confirmed further lithium mineralisation, including a notable intercept of 13 meters at 1.47% Li2O.

Eastern Resources holds a 70% interest in the project, with Lithium Australia retaining 30%. The company’s strategic partnership with Yongxing Special Materials, a major Chinese lithium converter, underscores the commercial significance of these metallurgical results, as Yongxing has expressed strong demand for lepidolite concentrates as feedstock for battery-grade lithium carbonate production.

Implications for Eastern Resources’ Lithium Portfolio

These metallurgical findings bolster Eastern Resources’ position as an emerging lithium developer with a diversified portfolio across Western Australia. Besides Lepidolite Hill, the company holds interests in the Trigg Hill, Lake Johnston, and Yalgoo West lithium projects, alongside an iron project in Victoria. The successful test work at Lepidolite Hill not only validates the quality of the lithium mineralisation but also enhances the project’s attractiveness for potential development and off-take agreements.

Further metallurgical testing and expanded drilling programs are planned to refine resource estimates and optimize processing parameters. The company’s ability to produce a high-grade, low-iron lithium concentrate could provide a competitive edge in the increasingly strategic lithium market, where feedstock purity and recovery rates are paramount.

Looking Ahead

While these results are preliminary, they mark a significant step forward in Eastern Resources’ development pathway. The combination of strong recoveries, high concentrate grades, and low impurities aligns well with industry requirements for lithium battery supply chains. As global demand for lithium continues to surge, projects like Lepidolite Hill could become critical contributors to the supply landscape.