Canada Silver Cobalt Works has extracted 99% rubidium using its Re-20x process at its Quebec gold operations.
The heap leach process, which uses crushing, flotation, and removal of pyrite, achieved a 99% recovery rate for rubidium, which is used in batteries. The removal of pyrite eliminated the need for chemicals.
"The company plans to reintegrate the precious metal leaching stage into the Re-20x process," chief executive Frank Basa said. Canada Silver Cobalt Works will be able to produce electric vehicle battery salts at low to no-cost using this technology, he added.
Canada Silver Cobalt Works will use the process to develop rubidium carbonate salts, which are also used in EV batteries, Basa said.
The company is also looking to source other feeds for use in its process.
The ore was extracted at Canada Silver Colbalt Works' Granada gold deposit in northwestern Quebec, where the company recently discovered a low-grade alkaline and rare earth mineralised zone.
The company plans to mine gold as a primary product and rubidium carbonate as a by-product.
