LIFT reports laboratory metallurgical recoveries averaging 79% producing a high-quality spodumene concentrate grading 5.83% Li2O at the Yellowknife Lithium Project

/EIN News/ -- VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Li-FT Power Ltd. (“LIFT” or the “Company”) (TSXV: LIFT) (OTCQX: LIFFF) (Frankfurt: WS0) is pleased to report results from the metallurgical sampling program completed in 2023 and 2024 across eight spodumene deposits within the Yellowknife Lithium Project, Northwest Territories, Canada. Metallurgical test work comprised of heavy liquid separation (HLS) testing, dense media separation (DMS) testing, and batch flotation testing was executed by SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”) in Lakefield, Ontario. Testing was completed on samples from the Big East (BigE), Big West (BigW), Nite, Ki, Echo, Fi Main (FiM), Fi Southwest (FiSW), and Hi pegmatites.

Table 1- Summary of Results

Sample	Flowsheet	Wt.	Assays (%)			Recovery (%)
		(%)	Li	Li2O	Fe2O3	Li	Fe2O3
BigE	Two-stage DMS + Flotation	21.1	2.7	5.79	0.76	87.4	29.3
BigW		11.1	2.67	5.75	0.76	81.4	16.0
Nite		22.4	2.69	5.78	0.74	89.3	28.7
Ki		18.4	2.8	6.02	0.58	84.8	22.8
Echo		15.7	2.87	6.17	0.85	87.1	13.8
FiM	Single-stage DMS + Flotation	15.8	2.6	5.59	0.49	60.8	14.7
FiSW		17.9	2.68	5.76	0.45	72.3	14.5
Hi		16.7	2.69	5.77	0.46	70.1	14.6
				5.83		79.1
Average Spodumene Concentrate Grade (Li2O %)				5.83
Average Global Lithium Recovery (%)				79.1

Francis MacDonald, CEO of LIFT comments, “We are very pleased to report that the comprehensive metallurgical testing studies in preparation for our upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) yielded positive results. Studies notably included pilot-scale DMS testing that indicated that this lower-cost separation method is suitable for the spodumene-enriched pegmatite dikes that are targeted for the more accessible early mining sites that we envision could comprise lithium production in the district for a generation or more. As such the results of these important studies underpin the high value potential for our Yellowknife lithium project.”

Details of metallurgical program

Lithium chemical analysis of the metallurgical samples was performed by sodium peroxide fusion digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma optical spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Whole rock analysis (WRA) was performed by borate fusion and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Elemental compositions of the pegmatite samples are presented in Table 2. Pegmatite sample grades ranged from 0.86% to 1.46% Li₂O and from 0.24% to 0.48% Fe₂O₃.

Table 2: Chemical analysis of the metallurgical samples

Component	Composition (%)
	BigE	BigW	Nite	FiM	FiSW	HI	KI	Echo
Li Li2O Fe2O3 SiO2 Al2O3 MgO CaO Na2O K2O MnO	0.63 1.35 0.44 73.6 16.2 0.16 0.24 4.06 2.56 0.06	0.40 0.86 0.34 73.8 15.7 0.07 0.28 4.52 2.88 0.05	0.67 1.44 0.48 73.9 16.0 0.06 0.24 3.77 2.55 0.10	0.68 1.46 0.27 73.0 16.4 0.07 0.30 3.93 2.57 0.02	0.62 1.33 0.29 74.0 16.1 0.07 0.26 3.97 2.76 0.03	0.63 1.35 0.39 73.4 16.2 0.08 0.30 3.83 2.63 0.03	0.60 1.29 0.24 73.5 16.1 0.08 0.28 3.92 2.79 0.02	0.56 1.20 0.33 73.1 16.4 0.10 0.24 4.53 2.53 0.04

The mineralogical compositions of the metallurgical samples were determined using the semi-quantitative XRD and are shown in Table 2 . Spodumene concentrations in the pegmatites ranged from 11.0% to 18.3% and are in line with lithium concentrations (i.e., spodumene is the dominant lithium-bearing mineral identified). Minor amounts (1%) of triphylite (LiFe(PO₄)) was detected in the FiM sample. Muscovite concentrations in the pegmatite samples ranged from 4.5% to 7.8%. Minor quantities (<1%) of iron-bearing minerals (e.g., chlorite, chlinochlore) were detected.

Table 3 – Metallurgical sample mineralogy from semi-quantitative XRD. Only minor amounts of non-spodumene lithium-bearing minerals were found in samples with ~99% of lithia being hosted in spodumene.

Mineral	Composition (%)
	BigE	BigW	Nite	FiM	FiSW	Hi	Ki	Echo
Spodumene	17.9	11	18.3	17.8	17.3	17.2	13.0	14.6
Albite	36.5	38.9	34.2	33.3	34.6	34.7	34.0	40.4
Quartz	26.5	28.3	28.7	28.8	28.2	28.9	27.3	26.5
Microcline	12.8	15.7	13.1	10.3	13.7	12.3	13.0	11.6
Muscovite	4.9	4.5	4.1	7.8	5.2	5.4	6.0	5.4
Fluorapatite	0.6	0.7	1.1	0.5	0.5	0.8	0.9	0.8
Triphylite	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	-
Beryl	0.2	0.7	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2
Magnetite	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.3
Chlorite	0.3	-	-	0.3	-	0.3	-	-
Chlionochlore	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.2	-
Total	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100

Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) tests were performed on eight metallurgical samples. The samples were sourced from saw-cut channel samples on the surface of the various dykes. The samples were stage-crushed to a top crush size of 6.35 mm. The -6.35 mm +0.85 mm fraction was submitted for HLS testing which achieved global lithium recoveries ranging from 29% to 68% (interpolated to 5.5% Li₂O concentrate grade). HLS test results are presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1 – HLS global lithium grade-recovery curves

Pilot-scale DMS was operated on each metallurgical sample. Two-stage DMS was undertaken on five of the samples (i.e., BigE, BigW, Nite, Ki, and Echo) and a single-stage DMS was operated on three of the samples (i.e., FIM, FiSW, and Hi).

For the two-stage DMS tests, global lithium recovery ranged from 49.9% to 60.4% with spodumene concentrate grade ranging from 5.81% to 6.41% Li₂O with relatively low iron content ranging from 0.62% to 0.88% Fe₂O₃. For single-stage DMS operation (pre-concentrate production), global lithium recovery to the fines and sinks stream ranged from 93.0% to 95.2%. Pre-concentrate grades ranged from 1.90% to 2.02% Li₂O and 0.53% to 0.55% Fe₂O₃.

Table 4 - Pilot-scale DMS test work results

DMS	Sample	DMS Products	Wt.	Assays (%)			Recovery (%)
			(%)	Li	Li2O	Fe2O3	Li	Fe2O3
Two-Stage DMS	BigE	Concentrate (Stage 2 Sinks)	14.9	2.7	5.81	0.71	59.9	17.8
	BigW		7.8	2.71	5.83	0.75	57.4	11.9
	Nite		15.4	2.71	5.83	0.77	60.4	27.4
	Ki		10.8	2.86	6.15	0.62	49.9	18.1
	Echo		10.5	2.98	6.41	0.88	58.4	19.5
Single-Stage DMS	FiM	Pre-Concentrate (Fines + Stage 1 Sinks)	72	0.88	1.9	0.53	93	80.9
	FiSW		68.1	0.9	1.94	0.54	95.1	76.7
	Hi		66.8	0.94	2.02	0.55	95.2	77.9

Three sets of flotation tests were performed on head samples or products from DMS operation (fines and DMS Stage 1 sinks or fines and Stage 2 DMS floats). For the flotation tests undertaken on the head samples, all samples produced roughly 5.5% Li₂O spodumene concentrate with lithium recovery ranging from roughly 69% to 72%. For flotation tests undertaken on the fines and stage 2 DMS floats, 5.5% Li₂O spodumene concentrate was produced with lithium recovery ranging from 56% to 75% (Figure 2). For flotation tests undertaken on the fines and stage 1 DMS sinks, 5.5% Li₂O concentrate was produced with lithium recovery ranging from roughly 66% to 77% (Figure 3).

Figure 2 - Flotation test results on DMS fines and stage 2 DMS floats

Figure 3 - Flotation test results on fines and DMS Stage 1 sinks

Overall laboratory lithium recoveries were calculated based on the DMS and batch flotation test results. Results for the two-stage DMS and flotation flowsheet produced combined concentrates ranging in grade from 5.75% to 6.17% Li₂O and lithium recoveries ranging from 81% to 87%. Tests undertaken with a single-stage DMS pre-concentration step followed by flotation produced concentrates ranging in grade from 5.59% to 5.77% Li₂O with laboratory-scale lithium recoveries ranging from 61% to 72%.

Qualified Person

The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding LIFT’s mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Jarrett Quinn, Ph.D., P.Eng, Process Director, Synectiq Inc.., and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and member in good standing of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) (Registration number: 5018119).

About LIFT

LIFT is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of lithium pegmatite projects located in Canada. The Company’s flagship project is the Yellowknife Lithium Project located in Northwest Territories, Canada. LIFT also holds three early-stage exploration properties in Quebec, Canada with excellent potential for the discovery of buried lithium pegmatites, as well as the Cali Project in Northwest Territories within the Little Nahanni Pegmatite Group.

For further information, please contact:

Francis MacDonald	Daniel Gordon
Chief Executive Officer	Investor Relations
Tel: + 1.604.609.6185	Tel: +1.604.609.6185
Email: info@li-ft.com	Email: investors@li-ft.com
Website: www.li-ft.com

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