The resource
Second-largest lithium ore deposit in the EU
Located at the heart of Europe’s chemical and automotive industries, the Zinnwald Lithium project benefits from Saxony’s history of mining activity and existing infrastructure.
Located near Dresden in the east of Germany, the Zinnwald ore deposit is near the heart of Europe’s chemical and automotive industries, and 150 km from the nearest planned battery gigafactory.
Zinnwald Lithium Project
LG
DISTANCE: 300km
Umicore Poland Sp. z o.o. - Nysa
DISTANCE: 375km
DISTANCE: 640km
DISTANCE: 240km
DISTANCE: 245km
DISTANCE: 120km
ACC - Automotive Cells Company
DISTANCE: 620km
Leclanché GmbH
DISTANCE: 660km
BorgWarner Akasol GmbH
DISTANCE: 530km
DISTANCE: 465km
DISTANCE: 250km
DISTANCE: 650km
carbonate equivalent
per annum
of mine
batteries
The Zinnwald
ore deposit
This project has the potential to be one of Europe’s largest lithium producers, with a Measured + Indicated + Inferred resource of 2,662,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) according to the 2024 revised Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).
The 2018 MRE estimated an annual production of 12,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide. This equates to a mine life of at least 35 years and would produce enough lithium for up to 800,000 electric car batteries a year. However, based on the revised MRE, this number is expected to be significantly higher.
To gain a more detailed understanding of the Zinnwald ore body, in 2022/23 we conducted an extensive drill programme. A total of 84 holes were drilled, each to a depth of about 300m (roughly equivalent to the height of the Eiffel Tower), extracting a total of 27 kilometres of core samples for analysis. The results of the study are laid out in the revised mineral resource estimate.
Mineral Resource Statement for Zinnwald Lithium Project
Effective 20th February 2024
| Classification | Domain | Tonnes | Mean Grade | Contained Metal | ||
| (Mt) | Li (ppm) | Li2O (%) | Li (kt) | LCE (kt) | ||
| Measured | External Greisen (1) | 11.3 | 3,420 | 0.736 | 39 | 206 |
| Mineralised Zone (2) | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Internal Greisen | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Mineralised Granite | - | - | - | - | - | |
| SubTotal (1) and (2) | 11.3 | 3,420 | 0.736 | 39 | 206 | |
| Indicated | External Greisen (1) | 2.1 | 3,510 | 0.756 | 7 | 40 |
| Mineralised Zone (2) | 180.0 | 2,120 | 0.456 | 383 | 2,037 | |
| Internal Greisen | 14.6 | 3,320 | 0.715 | 49 | 259 | |
| Mineralised Granite | 165.4 | 2,020 | 0.435 | 334 | 1,778 | |
| SubTotal (1) and (2) | 182.2 | 2,140 | 0.461 | 390 | 2,077 | |
| Measured + Indicated SubTotal | 193.5 | 2,220 | 0.478 | 429 | 2,283 | |
| Inferred | External Greisen (1) | 0.8 | 3,510 | 0.756 | 3 | 15 |
| Mineralised Zone (2) | 32.5 | 2,110 | 0.454 | 68 | 364 | |
| Internal Greisen | 0.6 | 2,880 | 0.620 | 2 | 9 | |
| Mineralised Granite | 31.9 | 2,090 | 0.450 | 67 | 355 | |
| SubTotal (1) and (2) | 33.3 | 2,140 | 0.461 | 71 | 379 | |
Source: Snowden Optiro
Notes
- Mineral Resource statement has an effective date of 20th February 2024.
- A Mineral Resource is reported using a cut-off grade of 1,100 ppm Li, which was calculated using the following assumptions: lithium hydroxide monohydrate price USD 23,800 /t, operating costs of USD $ 121.5/ t ROM; Li recovery of 69%; mining dilution and recovery of 10%.
- The requirement of a reasonable prospect of eventual economic extraction is met by having a minimum modelling width for mineralized zones, a cut-off grade based on reasonable inputs and an economic binding volume that lends itself to a potential scenario of underground extraction for undiluted in-situ resources.
- The Mineral Resource is reported at a minimum of 20m below historical underground mine workings (to avoid historic underground workings), and within Germany only.
- All tonnages reported are dry metric tonnes.
- Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding and use of appropriate significant figures.
- LCE (lithium carbonate equivalent) calculation used – 5.323 x Li metal. LiOH*H2O (lithium hydroxide monohydrate) calculation used – 6.045 x Li Metal.
- Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
- The results from the stope optimization are used solely for the purpose of testing the “reasonable prospects for economic extraction” by underground methods and do not represent an attempt to estimate mineral reserves. There are no mineral reserves reported in this NI 43-101 resource update. The results are used as a guide to assist in the preparation of a Mineral Resource statement and to select an appropriate resource reporting cut-off grade. Stope optimisation does not represent an economic study.
- The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.
- The Author is not aware of any known mining, processing, metallurgical, environmental, infrastructure, economic, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, or marketing issues, or any other relevant factors, that could materially affect the current Mineral Resource Estimate.
Potential
to expand
Why
Zinnwald Lithium?
Zinnwald Lithium is seeking to build a world-leading, highly economic business that will uphold high environmental standards. Find out more about the investment case.
