Argosy Minerals has hit its first major milestone at the Rincon lithium project in Salta province, Argentina, producing its first “battery grade” carbonate.

Its 500 t/y stage one plant completed production of some 30 kg of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) product that, Argosy says, is representative of its initial specification for delivery to end-users.

The product, tested in-house, recorded a Li2CO3 content value of 99.6%.

Following in-house testing, the company, which owns 77.5% of Rincon, is preparing samples to send to international cathode and battery-makers for their own due dilligence. This is likely to lead to talks on offtake agreements for stage one output at Rincon.

Argosy Managing Director Jerko Zuvela said: “We believe our chemical process pathway is efficient and scalable, and the success being announced today bodes well for the continued development of stages two and three at the Rincon lithium project.”

While stage one work is ongoing, the company’s stage two project could see Argosy progress construction works for an additional circa-24 hectares of evaporation ponds, finalise an initial JORC resource estimate, progress works to prepare a preliminary economic assessment, execute purchase agreements for mining properties currently under option and start stage two plant construction for a 1,500 t/y LCE project.

Following this, commercial production is planned for stage three.