Century Lithium Corp. has reported positive results from its ongoing test work on the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from primary lithium leach solutions generated from its 100%-owned Angel Island lithium project in Nevada. Initial testing indicates that high REE recoveries can be achieved without impacting lithium recovery in the company’s extraction process.
It previously confirmed that the leach solutions produced from Angel Island claystone contain notable concentrations of REEs used in high-performance permanent magnets for electric vehicle (EV) traction motors, including dysprosium, gadolinium, neodymium, and praseodymium.
Higher concentrations of the critical metals scandium, lanthanum, and cerium are also present. Cesium is present as well.
Ion-exchange test work achieved greater than 97% recovery of the identified REEs and critical metals, excluding cesium, while maintaining complete selectivity against lithium.
This selectivity is essential for downstream lithium recovery through the company’s process flowsheet, which includes ultrafiltration, direct lithium extraction (DLE), and subsequent steps to produce high-purity lithium carbonate for battery applications.
“The REE recovery results validate our belief that Century Lithium’s leach solutions offer meaningful secondary-value opportunities,” said Todd Fayram, Century Lithium’s senior VP, Metallurgy. “Producing a secondary REE-rich product has the potential to strengthen Angel Island’s economics and align the Company with broader government and industry initiatives supporting secure North American critical-minerals supply chains, including materials essential to electric vehicle batteries and motors.”
Century Lithium’s metallurgical program at Angel Island continues to focus on:
- Optimizing ion-exchange performance and selectivity
- Advancing downstream processing flowsheets for REE concentration and refinement
- Evaluating market pathways for a commercial REE by-product
- Assessing the economic contribution of REEs to primary lithium production
These results represent a significant technical milestone, demonstrating that REE extraction and recovery can be implemented without affecting the core lithium recovery process.
Century Lithium believes these advancements position the Company to potentially supply both lithium for EV batteries and REEs for EV motor magnets to North American critical-minerals markets, supporting supply-chain resilience and enhancing long-term project value for Angel Island.
Filed Under: Electric Motor, Technology News