ASX-listed Argosy Minerals has engaged with international technology and engineering service providers, as well as lithium consultants, to complete the definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its 12 000 t/y Rincon lithium project, in Salta, Argentina.

The first phase of the feasibility works is focused on the production of solid lithium chloride and the company says this strategy has significant advantages through lower upfront capital intensity, simplified processing, reduced operational risk, development flexibility and overall project derisking.

Notably, Argosy says, the process flowsheet, together with a sequenced project development strategy, provides a clear and scalable pathway from raw lithium brine through to solid lithium chloride to battery quality lithium carbonate or hydroxide.

Moreover, the company says testwork has been conducted for each critical unit process stage and has strongly validated the process flowsheet’s capability, providing increased confidence in the resilience of the underlying process design.

This, Argosy adds, will define the key operating and economic parameters that will be incorporated into the DFS.

As part of the DFS, the company is also advancing lithium brine pre-concentration work, including the design of evaporation ponds, brine transfer infrastructure and operational management systems.

Further, pilot-scale solvent extraction testwork has achieved a lithium chloride purity of 99% and lithium recovery of up to 94.4%, confirming the process's technical feasibility and scalability.

Meanwhile, forced evaporation testwork completed in Europe demonstrated high energy efficiency and suitability for the Rincon brine, while crystallisation testwork remains under way to optimise product quality, with engineering work scheduled for completion by the end of September.

“Argosy is making strong progress with its feasibility and engineering works toward developing our 12 000 t/y Rincon lithium project. We are excited with the positive results achieved thus far and are very positive that we will continue completing our upcoming milestones for a successful DFS.

“Our project has a major location advantage, with access to significant infrastructure including grid power, industrial water and transport, providing a major capital expenditure benefit,” Argosy Minerals MD Jerko Zuvela says.

On energy infrastructure access, the company has an agreement in place with Argentinian electricity distributor Salta Electricity Distribution Company and, so far, there have been detailed engineering and feasibility works for energy infrastructure capable of delivering up to 40 MW to the Rincon lithium project.

Argosy also highlights that a medium-voltage line will provide a reliable 33 kV connection from the 500 kV Argentina National Grid to the Rincon site, through an 8.6 km transmission line, thereby delivering a secure, stable and sustainable power supply platform to underpin long-term operations.