Surge Battery Metals Inc. and joint-venture partner Evolution Mining Limited have refined lithium carbonate from the Nevada North Lithium Project in Nevada to a battery-grade product grading 99.95% $\text{Li}_2\text{CO}_3$.

The technical work, conducted through the Nevada North Lithium, LLC joint venture, demonstrates a continuous processing flowsheet from run-of-mine claystone to a refined specification using conventional unit operations. Kemetco Research Inc. first produced a crude lithium carbonate assaying 99% $\text{Li}_2\text{CO}_3$ directly from a master composite via beneficiation, sulfuric acid leaching, solution purification, and carbonate precipitation. Chemshift Technologies Inc. then refined a portion of that material to reach the 99.95% purity level. Previous laboratory trials had achieved technical-grade lithium carbonate exceeding 99% purity.

The metallurgical program supports the ongoing prefeasibility study for the asset. Beneficiation via mild attrition and screening recovered 98.9% of the lithium into the fine minus-20-micron fraction while rejecting approximately 75% of the acid-consuming carbonate ahead of the leach circuit. Subsequent sulfuric acid leaching achieved extractions exceeding 93% using an acid addition of 475 kilograms per tonne of beneficiated feed, with extractions increasing to about 98% at higher acid additions. Leach kinetics proved rapid, reaching completion within one hour at a target temperature of 90 degrees Celsius.

“Producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from Nevada North ore is a significant step for the Project. We have now demonstrated the full chain - from sedimentary clay in the ground, through a conventional leach and purification circuit, to a refined product that meets battery-grade specifications. That outcome supports the flowsheet our engineers have been developing through the prefeasibility study. Our focus now turns to pilot-scale work, where we will test recovery, consistency, reagent consumption and energy performance under continuous operating conditions.”

— Greg Reimer, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

The Nevada North Lithium Project is held through a joint venture owned 67.5% by Surge Battery Metals and 32.5% by Evolution Mining. Surge Battery Metals anticipates delivering the prefeasibility study in the fourth quarter of 2026. Following the bench-scale program, operations will advance to pilot-scale testing to evaluate recovery rates, consistency, reagent consumption, and energy performance under continuous operating conditions.

Read the full announcement: Surge Announces 99.95% Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate from Nevada North