Rock Tech Lithium has completed an ore-sorting program at its Georgia Lake lithium project in northern Ontario, supported by funding from the Ontario Critical Minerals Innovation Fund. In collaboration with Queen’s University and STARK Resources, the company evaluated UV laser-based sorting from Optimum N.V. and X-ray transmission sensor sorting from allmineral. Pilot‐scale tests were carried out on drill core samples for algorithm calibration and on blended surface material under controlled conditions.
Results showed removal of 25–45 percent of waste material ahead of downstream processing, yielding an upgraded feed stream with a 1.4× to 1.8× increase in lithium grade. Early engineering analysis suggests that integrating ore sorting could reduce crushing and concentrator capital costs by up to 50 percent, while also lowering operating expenses and improving overall throughput efficiency.
These findings support Rock Tech’s broader Ontario mine-to-converter strategy, which includes the planned Red Rock lithium converter facility. By decreasing the volume of low-grade material entering the concentrator, ore sorting may enable a more flexible mine plan and enhance project resilience through lithium price cycles.
“The Critical Minerals Processing Lab is proud to have contributed to this project,” said Charlotte Gibson, assistant professor at Queen’s University. “Our work with Rock Tech and STARK Resources advanced the understanding of lithium mineral processing and helped identify cost-saving pathways for Georgia Lake.”
Rock Tech plans to use these preliminary results as a basis for further value engineering, additional drilling, and detailed feasibility studies. The next phase will assess plant design optimization, execution strategies, and full-scale integration of ore-sorting technology. Any projections on cost savings and performance improvements will require confirmation through advanced engineering and feasibility-level testing.
These test outcomes mark a key step toward strengthening Ontario’s domestic critical-minerals supply chain and advancing a made-in-Canada lithium value chain. Continued collaboration among government, academia, and industry is expected to drive further innovation and economic benefits in the region.
Source: Rock Tech Lithium (https://rocktechlithium.com/en/rock-tech-advances-georgia-lake-lithium-project-identifies-potential-pathway-to-reduce-processing-capex-by-up-to-50-per-cent/)
