Northern Lithium Ltd has secured the rights to explore and extract lithium across 185km2 from hot saline brines within the granite in Weardale, County Durham.
EXTRACTION
The new natural resource company, based in Wolsingham, said it had entered into definitive mineral rights agreements for lithium and other minerals in underground hot saline brines.
If successful, the project could result in a “new centre of lithium production” in the North East of England.
Managing director Nick Pople added that a homegrown supply of lithium in County Durham would accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and aid the drive to reach net zero by 2050.
“We’re delighted to launch this project so that exploration can get underway.
“If successful, not only will it reactivate mining and minerals extraction in the local area, the North East has the potential to become a core centre of lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle manufacturing using locally sourced raw materials, bringing jobs and economic growth to the region.”
Northern Lithium added that previous studies of the groundwater within the Weardale granite had identified lithium present at “sufficiently high concentration to consider the potential for commercial production”.
The secured rights are a result of a three year’ discussions and negotiations with a minerals’ rights owner.
Northern Lithium plans to begin its exploration programme, initially through a data-based exercise to identify target areas along the historically mined Slitt and Red veins.
The company will then complete extensive local consultation, design, statutory planning and environmental consent steps before starting physical exploration and commercial extraction.
Northern Lithium added that each Weardale production site would likely comprise extraction and reinjection wells with a lithium production facility built in between.
“Part of the next evaluation and design phase of the project will determine the suitability of different production plants but various small-scale off-the-shelf options that fit into a container are available.
“To further minimise environmental impact, the extraction process itself will be designed to be as closed loop as possible, with the residue waters re-injected back into the groundwater after lithium has been extracted.”
Technical director Roger Bade has studied the Northern Pennine orefield and associated mining and mineral extraction opportunities for more than 40 years.
“If successful with this particular lithium project, we have the opportunity of writing a new chapter in the 1,000-year history of mineral extraction in the region whilst introducing modern sustainable extraction methods to maximise efficiency of lithium extraction from the saline brines, ensure low footprint areas for extraction and minimise environmental impact to the local area.”
The directors and major shareholders of Northern Lithium have “extensive mining and mineral extraction industry experience, local area knowledge and fundraising expertise”.
Northern Lithium said that lithium in the Weardale granite is evident in saline geothermal water and in high concentrations in mine water from a local fluorspar mine.
GEOTHERMAL
The original geothermal project obtained planning permission in 2002 but was unable to raise sufficient funding to commercialise initial findings.
Previous focus was on the geothermal energy prospects, but new technology and extraction methods offer the additional potential to extract lithium from the hot saline brines.
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