The Thacker Pass Lithium Project, located in Humboldt County, Nevada, USA, is a major lithium clay deposit developed by Lithium Americas. The project aims to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) through an advanced mineral processing circuit, supporting the growing demand for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage.
- Processing Circuit: Crushing → Grinding → Attrition Scrubbing → Classification → Leaching (H₂SO₄) → Neutralization → CCD/Filtration → Mg/Ca Removal → Li₂CO₃ Crystallization → Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).
- Throughput: 2.7M dry tonnes/year per phase (7,522 t/day), with 42% coarse gangue rejection.
- Production: 40,000 t/year Li₂CO₃ per phase (160,000 t/year total after Phase 4).
- Recovery: 80.4% average Li₂CO₃ recovery (82.1% in first 25 years).
- Ore Types: 96.6% illite clay, 3.4% smectite clay over the 85-year mine life.
- Key Reagents: Sulfuric acid (on-site production), limestone, quicklime, soda ash.
- Tailings: Dry-stacked clay tailings (CTFS) and sulfate salts.
- Infrastructure: Five-phase expansion, 88% plant availability, 24/7 operation.
Source: Unnamed_Company_6
Further Reading
Technical report and processing history
The following archived source profiles have been consolidated here to preserve the project’s processing history and study context.
Thacker Pass Project — 2022 Feasibility Study
Thacker Pass Project — 2022 Feasibility Study
| Company | Lithium Americas Corp. |
| Date | 2022 |
| Region | Humboldt County, Nevada, USA |
| Commodities | Lithium |
| Throughput | 9,000 t/d (Phase 1) |
| Mine Life | 40 years |
| Annual Production | 40,000 t/a Li2CO3 (Phase 1) |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The Thacker Pass Project is a feasibility study conducted by Lithium Americas Corp. for a lithium carbonate production facility located in Humboldt County, Nevada. The project involves the extraction of lithium from lithium-bearing clay deposits (smectite and illite) using an open-pit mining method. The processing plant is designed in two phases, with Phase 1 targeting a nominal capacity of 40,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium carbonate, doubling to 80,000 tonnes per annum in Phase 2. The mine life is estimated at 40 years, with a total material processed of 217.2 Mt (dry).
The recovery process employs industry-standard equipment including comminution, attrition scrubbing, classification, acid leaching, and purification circuits. Key steps involve sulfuric acid leaching to extract lithium, followed by neutralization, counter-current decantation, and crystallization to produce lithium carbonate. The project utilizes a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system to manage waste salts and maximize lithium recovery.
Processing Methods
- Comminution: Feeder Breaker, Mineral Sizer
- Scrubbing: Log Washer, Attrition Scrubber
- Classification: Hydrocyclones, Hydraulic Classifier, Thickener, Decanter Centrifuge
- Leaching: Sulfuric Acid Leaching
- Purification: Crystallization, Ion Exchange, ZLD
- Product: Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3)
Reports
Website: https://lithiumamericas.com/thacker-pass/overview/default.aspx
Report Date: 2022
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Lithium
Throughput: 9,000 t/d (Phase 1)
Mine Life: 40 years
Mine Type:
Ore type:
Thacker Pass Project — 2022 Technical Report
Thacker Pass Project — 2022 Technical Report
| Company | Thacker Pass Project |
| Date | 2022 |
| Region | Humboldt County, Nevada, USA |
| Commodities | Lithium |
| Throughput | 7,522 t/d (dry feed) |
| Mine Life | 85 years |
| Annual Production | 160,000 t LCE (nominal) |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The Thacker Pass Project is a proposed lithium mining and processing operation located in Humboldt County, Nevada, USA. The project targets lithium-bearing clay deposits, primarily composed of illite and smectite minerals. The operation is designed in five expansion phases, with a total nominal capacity of 160,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate. The mine life is estimated at 85 years, with a total ore processed volume of 1,057 Mt (dry).
The processing plant utilizes a wet attrition scrubbing process followed by classification to separate lithium-bearing clay from coarse gangue. The upgraded ore slurry undergoes acid leaching using sulfuric acid to extract lithium. The solution is then purified through a series of steps including neutralization, countercurrent decantation, magnesium and calcium removal, and ion exchange. Final product recovery involves a two-stage lithium carbonate crystallization process with a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) circuit to manage waste salts.
Processing Overview
- Crushing: Feeder Breaker, Mineral Sizer (Toothed Roll)
- Comminution: Attrition Scrubbing
- Classification: Hydrocyclones, Hydraulic Classifier, Thickener, Decanter Centrifuge
- Leaching: Acid Leaching (Sulfuric Acid)
- Purification: Magnesium Sulfate Crystallization, Magnesium Precipitation, Calcium Precipitation, Ion Exchange
- Product Recovery: Lithium Carbonate Crystallization (2 Stages), Bicarbonation, ZLD Crystallization
Website: https://lithiumamericas.com/thacker-pass/overview/default.aspx
Report Date: 2022
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Lithium
Throughput: 7,522 t/d (dry feed)
Mine Life: 85 years
Mine Type:
Ore type:
Thacker Pass Project — 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study
Thacker Pass Project — 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study
| Company | Lithium Americas Corp. |
| Date | 2018 |
| Region | Humboldt County, Nevada, USA |
| Commodities | Lithium |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Throughput | 2.2 Mt/y (Phase 1) / 4.77 Mt/y (Phase 2) Ore |
| Mine Life | 46 years |
| Annual Production | 30,000 tpa (Phase 1) / 60,000 tpa (Phase 2) Li2CO3 |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
This Technical Report presents the Preliminary Feasibility Study findings for the Thacker Pass Project, a lithium mine and processing facility located in Humboldt County, Nevada. The project is designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) from lithium-bearing claystone deposits within the McDermitt Caldera. The project is planned in two phases, with Phase 1 targeting 30,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of Li2CO3 and Phase 2 expanding production to 60,000 tpa. The mine utilizes open-pit mining methods with a surface miner, and the processing plant employs acid leaching of the clay ore followed by crystallization and precipitation to recover lithium.
The economic analysis indicates a robust project viability with an After-Tax Net Present Value (NPV) of US$2.59 billion at an 8% discount rate and an After-Tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 29.3%. The project life is estimated at 46 years, with a total initial capital cost of US$1,059 million. The processing flowsheet includes a sulfuric acid plant for on-site acid production, which also generates excess power for sale. The facility is designed as a Zero-Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plant to protect local water resources, with tailings managed via a filtered stack method.
Key recommendations from the study include advancing flowsheet and equipment design through pilot work, finalizing power agreements, and continuing community engagement and permitting strategies. The project is positioned to take advantage of expedited federal permitting processes for critical minerals. The study concludes that the project is viable provided technical risks are mitigated and design development continues favorably.
Reports
Website: https://lithiumamericas.com/thacker-pass/overview/default.aspx
Report Date: 2018
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Lithium
Throughput: 2.2 Mt/y (Phase 1) / 4.77 Mt/y (Phase 2) Ore
Mine Life: 46 years
Mine Type: Open Pit
Ore type:
