China’s Jiada Lithium Mine Adds 1.05 Million Tonnes to Resources

Chinese lithium mine registers wider vein, bolstering Beijing’s battery supply

The Jiada Lithium Mine in Sichuan has registered about 1.05 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, taking its total resources to 2.53 million tonnes, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.

The registration expands the resource base of a major lithium deposit in southwestern China by about 70 per cent, strengthening the country’s potential long-term supply of the metal.

Lithium is an essential component in the production of batteries used in electric vehicles and energy-storage systems, making the expansion significant for China’s battery supply.

Additional resources pass review

The mine’s developer, Dazhong Mining, said in a filing that the additional resources had passed review and registration by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The increase follows recent detection efforts at the deposit, according to Xinhua’s report.

The added resources comprise 33.52 million tonnes of ore containing about 423,800 tonnes of lithium oxide, with an average grade of 1.26 per cent.

The addition represents a 70.5 per cent increase from the previously registered 1.48 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, according to the filing.

With the additional registration, the Jiada Lithium Mine further reinforces its position as a major hard-rock lithium deposit.

The expansion adds to China’s stores of a valuable metal central to battery production, while increasing the stated resource base available from the Sichuan deposit.

Source: South China Morning Post