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
