@JDubski. Thanks for sharing this. I've been looking for some estimate of how ore upgrading will reduce sulfuric acid consumption and this article helps offer some insight.

For context, American Lithium's Tonopah resource boasts measured lithium at 932 ppm at a cutoff of 400ppm. Max concentrations were up to 2,460 ppm and ore upgrading can increase their lithium as high as 2207 ppm. Ore upgrading reduces sulfuric acid consumption by 45%. 

Thacker pass, by comparison, has measured lithium at 2948 ppm at a cutoff of 2000 ppm. Highest measured concentrations exceed 8000 ppm. Ore upgrading increases the lithium as high as 10,000 ppm. 

Though the lithium concentrations at Thacker Pass are about 3-fold higher, ore upgrading achieves similar fold-increase in lithium concentrations. Thus, I would imagine 45% is a fair estimate for how much LAC will be able to reduce their sulfuric acid consumption. Either they can scale back their sulfuric acid plant, or process twice as much upgraded ore with the existing plant design.

The sulfuric acid plant currently is slated to cost $134 million in phase 1 and $158 million in phase 2 for a combined $293 million out of a total $1,059 million capital costs for phase 1 and 2 combined. Halving this would be a huge savings of about 15% of total capital costs. Some of that savings would be offset by the cost of equipment for ore upgrading, but I am not sure how much. 

With respect to operating costs, sulfuric acid accounts for $1,780 per ton LCE out of a total of $4,088 (44%). Reducing this value by half would save roughly $800 per ton LCE (~20%). 

Can't wait to see the DFS!

AXP