Lithium Ore

Mining in Nigeria dates back to before 1900. Nigeria has in abundance many mineral deposits; one of such minerals is LITHIUM ORE.  LITHIUM is a chemical element with symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable, and is stored in mineral oil. When cut open, it exhibits a metallic luster, but moist air corrodes it quickly to a dull silvery gray and then black tarnish. It never occurs freely in nature, but only in (usually ionic) compounds, such as pegmatite mineral, but is also commonly obtained from brines and clays. On a commercial scale, lithium is isolated electrolytic ally from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride. In Nigeria, minerals containing lithium ore can be found mainly in Northern part of the country. Like the other alkali metals, lithium has a single valence electron that is easily given up. Because of this, lithium is a good conductor of heat and electricity as well as a highly reactive element, though it is the least reactive of the alkali metals. Lithium’s low reactivity is due to the proximity of its valence electron to its nucleus

Rocks are composed of minerals. Minerals are natural occurring element like Gold, or a compound such as iron oxide. If a rock contains a mineral from which a metal can be extracted at a profit, it is called an ore examples are zinc ore, Lead ore.

 

Uses of LITHIUM

Ceramics and glass

Lithium oxide is widely used as a flux for processing silica, reducing the melting point and viscosity of the material and leading to glazes with improved physical properties including low coefficients of thermal expansion. Worldwide, this is one of the largest uses for lithium compounds.

Glazes containing lithium oxides are used for ovenware. Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) is generally used in this application because it converts to the oxide upon heating

 

Electrical and electronics

Late in the 20th century, lithium became an important component of battery electrolytes and electrodes, because of its high electrode potential. Because of its low atomic mass, it has a high charge- and power-to-weight ratio. A typical lithium ion battery can generate approximately 3 volts per cell, compared with 2.1 volts for lead acid and 1.5 volts for zinc carbon. Lithium-ion batteries, which are rechargeable and have a high energy density, differ from lithium batteries, which are disposable (primary) batteries with lithium or its compounds as the anode. Other rechargeable batteries that use lithium include the lithium ion polymer battery, lithium iron phosphate battery, and the nanowire battery.

 

Lubricating greases

The third most common use of lithium is in greases. Lithium hydroxide is a strong base and, when heated with a fat, produces a soap made of lithium stearate. Lithium soap has the ability to thicken oils, and it is used to manufacture all-purpose, high-temperature lubricating greases.

 

Metallurgy

Lithium (e.g. as lithium carbonate) is used as an additive to continuous casting mold flux slags where it increases fluidity, a use which accounts for 5% of global lithium use  as at 2011 Lithium compounds are also used as additives (fluxes) to foundry sand for iron casting to reduce veining.

Lithium (as lithium fluoride) is used as an additive to aluminum smelters (Hall-Héroult process), reducing melting temperature and increasing electrical resistance, a use which accounts for 3% of production in 2011

When used as a flux for welding or soldering, metallic lithium promotes the fusing of metals during the process and eliminates the forming of oxides by absorbing impurities. Alloys of the metal with aluminum, cadmium, copper and manganese are used to make high-performance aircraft parts

 

Silicon Nano-welding

Lithium has been found effective in assisting the perfection of silicon Nano-welds in electronic components for electric batteries and other devices

 

Pyrotechnics

Lithium compounds are used as pyrotechnic colorants and oxidizers in red fireworks and flares.

 

Air purification

Lithium chloride and lithium bromide are hygroscopic and are used as desiccants for gas streams.^[13] Lithium hydroxide and lithium peroxide are the salts most used in confined areas, such as aboard spacecraft and submarines, for carbon dioxide removal and air purification. Lithium hydroxide absorbs dioxide from the air by forming lithium carbonate, and is preferred over other alkaline hydroxides for its low weight.

 

Nuclear

Lithium-6 is valued as a source material for tritium production and as a neutron absorber in nuclear fusion.

 

Medicine

Lithium is useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Lithium salts may also be helpful for related diagnoses, such as schizoaffective disorder and cyclic major depression.

Lithium has also been researched as a possible treatment for cluster headaches.

 

Precaution

Lithium is corrosive and requires special handling to avoid skin contact. Breathing lithium dust or lithium compounds (which are often alkaline) initially irritate the nose and throat, while higher exposure can cause a buildup of fluid in the lungs, leading to pulmonary edema. The metal itself is a handling hazard because contact with moisture produces the caustic lithium hydroxide. Lithium is safely stored in non-reactive compounds such as naphtha.

 

MARKET FOR LITHIUM

Export of lithium ore is good business but refining to obtain pure lithium carbonate ready to be used is better although it requires enormous investment so also is the return on investment. World consumption of refined lithium was 212,719 metric tons in 2016. The leading refined Lithium carbonate consuming countries were China, the United States, and Germany. Demand for lead worldwide is expected to grow largely because of increased consumption in China, which is being driven by growth in the phone batteries. Lithium has become a major component of the battery manufacturing industry. Lithium ion batteries are rechargeable, capable of a longer lifecycle, higher storage capacity and better efficiency than conventional batteries. The demand for these batteries is driven by the increasing adoption of portable electronic devices and the growing adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). In addition, favorable regulations including subsidies and tax rebate are also expected to stimulate lithium ion battery market share. The global Lithium Ion Battery Market size is projected to reach $53 billion by 2024, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights Inc. With over $23 billion in 2015, the market is set to grow at a 9% during the forecasted period of 2016 to 2024.

 

REQUIREMENT AND CONDITIONS FOR MINING LEAD IN NIGERIA

There are two options available to a company or an individual to enter into the mining industry in Nigeria.

1. Through the acquisition of an existing mining Lease from the original owner. Approval must be obtained from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development for such a purchase.
2. Fresh mining lease

 

Procedure for Mineral Title Licences/Leases and Permits:

•  Duly completed application form
• Coordinates of the area of application
• Certificate of incorporation
• Attestation
• Letter of consent from landowner(s)/occupier(s)
• Types of minerals
• Work programme/pre-feasibility report
• Evidence of payment
• Technical capability
• Financial capability

In order to encourage investment in the solid minerals industry in Nigeria, Government is offering the following incentives

1. 3-5 years Tax Holiday
2. Deferred royalty payments
3. Possible capitalization of expenditure on exploration and surveys
4. Extension of infrastructure such as roads and electricity to mining sites, and provision of 100% foreign ownership of mining concerns.

The mining industry in Nigeria is regulated by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007, National Minerals and Metals Policy 2008 and Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations 2011.

 

CONCLUSION
Business Advisory Network ‘BAN’ will work with you and assist you to process mining lease from the federal government. We will help you source for a site with rich mineral content. Mining is a technical field although the financial reward is enormous; therefore to succeed you need experts to guide you to avoid fatal mistakes that will erode your capital.

Other things BAN can do for you include but are not limited to helping you to determine the grade of Lithium ore in the site, source market for your mined minerals, both locally and internationally. BAN will also help you arrange security at your mining sites. It will interest you to know that export of refined pure Lithium carbonate is where you will make a kill. BAN will help you to set up a refinery for Lithium ore in Nigeria. The capital outlay for this is huge but even so much more is the return on investment. If we have refined 100% LITHIUM carbonate in Nigeria it will be easy for a Nigeria company to provide lithium battery and other ancillary products.