Paradox Lithium Project

The Paradox Lithium Project is Anson’s core asset. It is an advanced development project, covering an area of 167km² in the Paradox Basin in southern Utah, in the USA.

Anson is focused on developing the Paradox Project into a significant lithium producing operation, to provide high-quality lithium carbonate for the rapidly growing EV battery market:

• Commercially proven Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology: Anson’s lithium extraction process technology has been in commercial use since 2018 and currency produces 32,000 tpa of lithium carbonate at 7 projects.
• Low carbon and waste: Hydro and solar energy power the project and brine is reinjected underground post lithium extraction.
• High subsidy for consumers and project loans: US lithium producers can access low interest loans from the Department of Energy and consumers purchasing an EV with US sourced lithium batteries receive a $3,750 subsidy.
• DFS confirms strong project economics: Low-cost, long-life project with material upside to include expand lithium production and bromine production.
• Substantial JORC Resource: 1Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) and 5.275Mt of Bromine¹– Major Resource expansion program underway. 

The Paradox Project is held by Anson’s US subsidiary A1 Lithium.

 

Definitive Feasibility Study

The September 2022 DFS for Phase 1 of the Paradox Lithium Project confirmed the Project’s advanced potential to become a major supplier of high purity, battery grade Lithium Carbonate into the US Electrical Vehicle market.

The DFS proposes that the Project will produce 13,074 tonnes per annum of high purity Lithium Carbonate over an initial 10-year project life, and then produce lower commercial levels up to a production life of 23 years (assuming no further Mineral Resource expansion and that no other extraction wells will come on-line).

Phase 2 development of the Paradox Project is proposed to comprise further substantial increases in lithium production capacity plus bromine production.

Key financial highlights of Phase 1 DFS are presented in the Table below.

Table: Paradox Lithium Project Phase 1 DFS key financial highlights

Global engineering group Worley Ltd (Worley) was the lead consultant for the DFS and responsible for the Class-3 Estimate of the above-ground facilities.  Capital and operating costs associated with lithium extraction process technology were provided by Anson’s technology partner.

Key outcomes and parameters of the DFS are presented in the Table below.

Table: Paradox Lithium Project key parameters and outcomes

Further details on the Paradox Phase 1 DFS are provided in Anson’s ASX announcement of 8 September 2022.

 

Major Mineral Resource

The Paradox Project hosts a major JORC Mineral Resource of;

1,504,237 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and 7,608,700 tonnes of bromine, including,
–  Indicated Resource of 366,737 tonnes of LCE and 1,910,000 tonnes of bromine; and
–  Inferred Resource of 1,137,500 tonnes of LCE and 5,698,700 tonnes of bromine

Table: Paradox Lithium Project Total JORC Mineral Resource estimation¹.

The Mineral Resource incorporates drilling and sampling by Anson at the Cane Creek 32-1 well and the Long Canyon Unit 2 within the Project area. The Resource also includes significant amounts of other minerals including Bromine (Br₂), Boron (Boric Acid, H₃BO₃) and Iodine (I₂)

 

Resource Expansion Program

Anson is seeking to further expand the Paradox Project’s Mineral Resources, by targeted drilling and sampling in the western region of the Project. The results of the ‘Western Expansion’ strategy are expected to deliver an upgrade to the existing Mineral Resource, which was confirmed from drilling and sampling in the eastern area of the Project. It also plans to define a Mineral Resource at the nearby Green River Lithium Project, which would be added to the Company’s global Mineral Resource in the Paradox Basin.

Competent Person’s Statement

The information note above that relates to exploration results and geology for the geological projects is based on information compiled and/or reviewed by Mr Greg Knox, a member in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Knox is a geologist who has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a “Competent Person”, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Knox has reviewed and validated the metallurgical data produced by Lilac Solutions and consents to the inclusion in this announcement of this information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Knox is a director of Anson and a consultant to Anson.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements regarding plans with respect to Anson’s mineral projects are forward looking statements. There can be no assurance that Anson’s plans for development of its projects will proceed as expected and there can be no assurance that Anson will be able to confirm the presence of mineral deposits, that mineralisation may prove to be economic or that a project will be developed.

 

[1]  Further details on the Paradox Mineral Resource Estimate are provided in Anson’s ASX announcement of 2 November 2022 and 16 October 2023
[2]  Lithium Carbonate Spot Price – US$69,400/t Battery grade EXW China price.  Source – S&P Capital IQ.

A1 LITHIUM: BRINGING USA GREEN LITHIUM TO MARKET

THERE ARE SEVERAL LITHIUM BRINE EXTRACTION METHODS:

• Evaporation: Solar or mechanical
• Hard Rock Mining
• DLE Membrane filtration, e.g. Summit Nanotech
• DLE Ion Exchange, e.g. Lilac, requires acid rinse
• DLE Absorption, e.g. Sunresin, requires water rinse
• DLE Solution extraction
• Hybrid DLE, evaporation then DLE, for low grade brine

• Not one size fits all
• Infrastructure support is critical
• ESG considerations
• Financial Costs