Lepidico Ltd. announced that it has produced battery grade lithium carbonate grading 99.75% using its L-Max® technology, as part of the ongoing Pre Feasibility Study (PFS) test work programme. Samples from three separate lepidolite deposits will be tested for the Phase1 commercial L-Max® plant PFS. Hydrometallurgical batch tests have been completed for the first of these samples, sourced from the tailings of an existing mining operation. Approximately 30kg of material containing lepidolite (36%) and lithium muscovite (43%) was received in 50mm - ­100mm pieces, grading approximately 3.8% Li2O and 0.7% Cs. The sample was subjected to leaching under standard L-Max® conditions, with extractions for lithium and caesium of 91% and 88% respectively. Optimisation of leach conditions is expected to result in improved recoveries. Caesium formate represents a potential high value by-product of the L-Max® process. A mixed formate brine was produced from the batch test that contained 55% rubidium formate and 16% caesium formate (along with potassium and sodium formates), with a specific gravity of 1.96g/cm3. Total recovery of caesium to formate was 88%.