Why a sustainable future depends on better lithium mining
And how our XRD analysis tools can support this important transition
We live in a lithium-battery-powered world. In fact, the very device you’re reading this on – whether a phone, laptop, or desktop computer – almost certainly relies on lithium-ion technology. And batteries hold a lot of promise for our future too. Not only will they still be needed for our computers, power tools, ships, and planes, but they will also power our electric vehicles, medical devices, drones, and utility-scale storage. Thanks to their high performance, rechargeable capabilities, and relatively low cost, it is widely agreed that lithium batteries will be key to our sustainable energy transition.
But we can’t sit back and relax just yet! While lithium batteries have the potential to power a range of green technologies, true sustainability is only possible if batteries themselves are sustainably produced – and this all starts right at the beginning of the battery-making process. Mining and processing lithium efficiently depend on fast mineral characterization, to ensure both better monitoring and maximum recovery rates for lithium minerals during separation. But since X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques aren’t suitable for lithium, time-consuming wet chemistry techniques are used instead. Unfortunately though, the inefficiency of wet chemistry can have big financial – and environmental – costs…
XRD: Powering greater process efficiency
Enter: X-ray diffraction (XRD)! As an established, fast, and precise mineralogical measurement technique, XRD is the ideal solution for the quantitative analysis of lithium minerals. Why? Because more accurate analysis throughout the mining process allows for more efficient ore grading (for higher ore quality) and more regular process optimization. And it also means that less waste is created in the process! Plus, XRD is also useful in identifying high- and low-grade ores in mines, helping companies to plan their mining operations more carefully and save valuable time and energy in the process.
So, how does XRD fit into the lithium mining process? Well – it depends on your deposit! Since lithium minerals are available in both hard rock deposits and brines, the process for extracting them varies. For hard rock deposits, lithium ore must be crushed and separated through flotation. For lithium brines (our primary source of lithium) the process involves crystallizing different salts from the brine to remove impurities.
However, in both cases, the flexible, fast, and accurate mineralogical analysis provided by XRD is key, since it provides real-time monitoring and enables greater process efficiency. And with measurement speeds of just a few minutes – or even less for time-sensitive lithium brine analysis – this measurement technique meets the demands of a variable and often unpredictable process.
Discover your ideal lithium mining solution
And now for the even better news. Modern XRD instruments are not just fast and accurate – they’re compact too! This ensures that they can be quickly and easily implemented into the process flow at beneficiation plants, directly at the mine site, or even in smaller mobile labs. And, with full automotive capabilities, including automated sample preparation, it’s easier than ever for operators of all levels to perform XRD analysis. This makes compact XRD instruments, like our benchtop Aeris Minerals edition, a seamless and versatile solution for better mineralogical monitoring – wherever it’s needed.
And we have many other solutions besides! Whether you’re looking for rapid and non-destructive mineral analysis in the field or even better particle size analysis, our diffraction solutions can help along every step of lithium mining and production. So, for fast feedback in mine planning and the identification of new lithium deposits, look no further than our diffraction solutions.
We may have a long way to go to make sure our sustainable energy transition goes smoothly, but we have the tools to help you power up your production. Get in touch today to find out more!
To find out more about our lithium mining solutions, read our paper or contact us.
Further reading