Core Lithium’s spodumene concentrate production rounded up to 20,692 tonnes (t) during the September 2023 quarter, with a recovery rate of 50 per cent.
The Australian lithium miner also saw an eight per cent increase in the total material moved compared to the previous quarter, as well as record ore extraction in September.
Stocks on the run of mine pad saw a significant increase, jumping from 7598t during the last quarter to 164,796t.
The company’s spodumene concentrate shipments equalled to 23,424t with an average grade of 5.2 per cent.
Core Lithium completed its final concentrate shipment of 13,100t into the Yahua prepayment agreement, and the first 10,000t spodumene concentrate was delivered as per the Ganfeng offtake agreement.
The Finniss operation continued to ramp up with progress made in both the mine and processing plant.
“This was a quarter of good progress in our three areas of focus: safely ramping up and optimising our concentrate production operations at Grants, progressing the BP33 project and delivering our exploration plan,” Core Lithium chief executive officer Gareth Manderson said.
“It is a hive of activity at BP33 where the team is working to achieve as much as they can in the dry season. The 288m long and 40m deep box cut excavation has progressed well and deliveries of the steelwork for the tunnel which covers the box-cut to manage water ingress, were completed in October.
“The results of the BP33 drilling program, announced in October, have led to 89 per cent of the 10.5Mt (million tonnes) resource now classified as measured and indicated. This is a very positive step towards the development of the BP33 mine plan and is being incorporated into the updated feasibility study, on track to be delivered in Q1 (of 2024).”
Core Lithium’s capital expenditure during the quarter was $19.9 million, and it held $202.1 million in cash at bank as of September 30.
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