Application Background

In recent years, with the development of the economy, especially the rise of emerging industries, in the manufacturing field, lithium aluminum series alloys are used for the shells or structural components of aircraft, rockets, ships, and vehicles, and lithium based resins are used for lubrication. In the field of nuclear power, lithium is used as the fission control rod for uranium reactors and as the main raw material for controlled nuclear fusion. It is worth noting that in the field of strategic emerging industries, lithium is used for new energy, and the widespread application of new energy vehicles today requires a large amount of lithium sources.

The majority of lithium sources come from the mining and subsequent refining processes of lithium ore. The content of lithium in the Earth's crust is about 0.0065%, and there are more than 150 known lithium containing minerals, mainly in the form of spodumene, lithium mica, lithium feldspar, phosphate lithium ore, etc. Lithium minerals in the world are mainly distributed in South America, North America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Global lithium resources mainly exist in two forms: solid hard rock type (pegmatite type or granite type lithium veins) and liquid brine type (lithium rich salt lake brine, etc.). The lithium resources currently being exploited and utilized are mainly pegmatite deposits and brine deposits. The vast majority of lithium mineral resources in China (86.8% brine lithium and 60.5% hard rock lithium) are distributed in harsh natural conditions such as the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and western Sichuan, making development difficult and lacking in technology.

Africa has a large amount of proven lithium reserves and concentrated resources. Currently, 78% of the discovered lithium reserves and 88% of the resources are distributed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali, with the Democratic Republic of Congo being the main source. Almost all lithium deposits in Africa are hard rock lithium deposits related to granite pegmatite, often formed after the evolution of rift structures, as a product of the combined effects of alkaline magma, carbonate magma, and pegmatite. The ore minerals are mainly spodumene.

Manono ore with high grade (tin lithium ore, average grade 1.65% Li)2O) Goulamana mine (hard rock lithium mine, with an average grade of 1.51% Li)2O) We have already cooperated with multiple Chinese lithium salt producers, and the competition for high-quality lithium mining projects is fierce. Since 2020, companies such as Ganfeng Lithium, Shengxin Lithium Energy, Tianyi Lithium, and Zhongkuang Resources have accelerated their lithium mining layout in Africa, signing multiple underwriting agreements and engaging in deeper equity cooperation. In the mining of lithium ore, it is necessary to detect the lithium content. Third party testing institutions use inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or chemical titration methods to determine lithium content. When the lithium element is in trace amounts, the titration method is more accurate and better when its content is<15%>50-60%. However, the cost of testing a single sample can be as expensive as over 600 yuan,

Usually, in order to ensure the accuracy and stability of the data, the number of samples sent for testing usually reaches 3-5, and the cost of a single sample testing is over 2000 yuan. Moreover, the testing cycle is long, and in China, it usually takes at least 7 working days to obtain the test results. Moreover, for field mining operations in Africa, in order to obtain lithium content data in lithium mines, the samples must be sent to relevant testing laboratories for analysis, and the cycle may be longer.

Therefore, in this situation, portable X-ray diffraction (pXRD) analyzers will play a huge advantage:

1. Portable device, easy to operate, accurate testing of mineral composition and content anytime, anywhere.

2. Quickly detect the lithium content in lithium ore with high efficiency, and the results can be detected in about 15 minutes.

3. In the long run, it can reduce costs and eliminate the need for time-consuming and costly shipping to testing institutions.

Application of X-ray diffractometer

YISHINE Instrument is a portable XRD/XRF device. YISHINE Instrument's mobile XRD system is a high-performance, fully enclosed, battery operated, enclosed X-ray portable XRD analyzer that can provide full crystal phase ID information of major, minor, or trace components of materials through a one-time rapid XRF scan of magnesium to uranium elements. The technology of minimal preparation of samples by the system and its sample chamber enable operators to quickly analyze samples in the field.

YISHINE's analysis speed is extremely fast, the data quality is high, and it provides real-time quantitative chemical composition values for users at the sample testing site where they need to know the test results the most

The necessary software (CrystalX analysis software) for processing X-ray diffraction data results is included in the attachments that will be shipped to the user together with Ying SHINE. This software integrates AMCSD ore database, ICDD ore database, and ICSD ore database, supporting users to perform cross database object matching. For quantitative analysis, CrystalX analysis software provides a reference density ratio (RIR) quantitative analysis method and tools for analyzing various diffraction patterns.

In addition, YISHINE can provide XRD pattern data in multiple file formats, allowing users to easily obtain interpretation information for XRD patterns in third-party projects.

Test case

1) Sample Introduction

Almost all lithium mines in Africa are hard rock lithium mines related to pegmatite. Ore bearing pegmatite can be divided into two categories: banded structural pegmatite and non banded structural pegmatite.

(1) Belt shaped structured pegmatite lithium deposits. The mineral composition of this type of deposit is complex, containing not only a large amount of minerals such as spodumene, diorite, lithium mica, lithium garnet, and phosphate aluminum lithium, but also a small amount of rare metal minerals such as beryl, niobium tantalum iron ore, cassiterite, and cesium garnet that can be comprehensively utilized. The content of spodumene in this type of deposit is about 20%, with coarse crystals and a maximum length of over 14m. It is currently the main source of high-quality low iron spodumene concentrate (such as the Greenbushes lithium mine in Australia).

(2) No banded tectonic pegmatite deposit. The pegmatite rocks of this type of deposit are basically single-phase homogeneous rocks, composed of sodium feldspar, microcline feldspar, quartz, muscovite, and spodumene, with small amounts of minerals including beryl, cassiterite, and tantalum niobium minerals. Lithium pyroxene is evenly distributed and can account for 25% of the total rock mass, making it an important source of pegmatite type lithium pyroxene. These types of lithium deposits are usually independent lithium deposits, or lithium deposits accompanied by small amounts of beryllium and tantalum. The Kings Mountain and Bessemer City deposits in the cassiterite spodumene belt of North Carolina, USA, can serve as typical representatives.

These crystal minerals can be detected and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), providing quantitative results. The operation is simple, fast, and the detection results are accurate, ensuring Li during mineral mining2The high or low grade of O provides assurance.

2) Sample/Preparation

In this experiment, the YISHINE portable X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzer from Langsheng Company was used to detect and analyze lithium pyroxene produced in Mali, Africa. Powder samples were prepared using a pocket sample box provided by Langsheng, and the samples were placed in a sample chamber for detection to obtain the sample diffraction pattern spectrum. The CrystalX analysis software was used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the composition of the diffraction pattern.

3）Ore testing flowchart

4）Analysis results

Figure # Analysis results of low-grade lithium pyroxene ore

image#Analysis results of high-grade lithium pyroxene ore

According to the test results of the YISHINE portable X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzer from Langsheng Company, the African Malian spodumene is mainly composed of spodumene, sodium feldspar, and quartz.

Lithium pyroxene (LiAlSi) in low-grade lithium pyroxene ore2O6）The quality score is 12.75%, and Li is calculated2The grade of O is 1.03%;

Lithium pyroxene (LiAlSi) in high-grade lithium pyroxene ore # 22O6）The quality score is 40.84%, which means Li2The grade of O is 3.29%. In summary, the analysis results accurately reflect the lithium pyroxene (LiAlSi) in the Malian lithium pyroxene ore in Africa2O6）The content of Li can be obtained2The grade of O is Li in lithium pyroxene ore from mining sites in Africa2The identification of high and low grades of O provides important data support.

Conclusion

The analysis results indicate that the content of spodumene in Malian spodumene was quickly determined on-site using the SHINE portable XRD analyzer from Langsheng Company2The grade of O helps to provide efficient and accurate data support for the mining industry, accelerating the progress of projects.