want to explore Since the price of Lithium metal is currently at $129.91/kg, you
ID: 295826 • Letter: W
Question
want to explore Since the price of Lithium metal is currently at $129.91/kg, your exploration company has determined that they the potential of reopening the Harding Mine. To determine if a deposit is economic for mining, a company must first look at the size of the deposit, the grade or concentration, mining costs and clean up/environmental remediation costs. That is a lot to think about before they even start mining! You must overcome the production costs for the mine to be profitable. Make sure to show the units in every calculation; work in kg and meters. Provide Calculations on a separate sheet of paper! 1. Given that the pegmatite density is 2650 kgim and the estimated volume of the main dike is 8,480,565 f ( f-0.0283 m2), calculate the tonnage (i.e., mass) of the deposit. (1 tonne- 1000 kg) Grade of the Deposit 2. A deposit's grade for a specific metal is calculated as a percentage or the weight of the metal per weight of ore rock (i.e, [kg of Likg of ore) x 100). Given the density, volume, and concentration information provided in the table below, determine the grade of the deposit. (Hint: you will need to start with volumes and use the densities to convert over to weights) Spodumene 3.74 % 10% 3150 kg/m Lepidolite 3.58 % 4% 2840 kg/m Mineral Formula Lithium concentrtion (wt. % or kg/100kg) Volume % (ie, l %-0.01m, 1 m, of rock) Density Grade- % (kg/100kg) 3. What volume of pegmatite would you have to mine in order to get I kg of Lithium? Value of the Deposit 4. What is the potential mass (in kg) of Lithium in the main dike of the deposit? 5. Given today's price of Lithium metal, what is the potential value of Lithium in the main dike deposit?Explanation / Answer
The answers to Q.4 and 5 are as follows:
4. According to the volumetric data, Spodumene occupies a 1/10th volume of the pegmatite. Given the density of spodumene, the mass of spodumene in the pegmatite is 3150 / 10 = 315 kg. It is also given that 100 kg of Spodumene contains 3.74 kg of Lithium which means the mass of Lithium in 315 kg of Spodumene is (315 x 3.74) / 100 = 11.78 kg
Similarly, Lepidolite occupies a 1/25th volume of the pegmatite. The mass of Lepidolite in the pegmatite is 2840 / 25 = 113.6 kg. So, given that 100 kg of Lepidolite contains 3.58 kg of Lithium, the mass of Lithium in 113.6 kg of Lepidolite is (113.6 x 3.58) / 100 = 4.06 kg.
Since spodumene and lepidolite are two separate mineralogical constituents of the pegmatite dike, the mass of Lithium that can be found in the rock is the sum of the masses of Lithium present in the two minerals i.e. 11.78 + 4.06 = 15.84 kg.
5. Given that Lithium is priced at $129.91 per kg, 15.84 kg of Lithium will have a value of 129.91 x 15.84 = $2057.77
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