Lithium Australia NL said May 22 it outlined a maiden inferred resource at its Youanmi complex in Western Australia of 185 million tonnes grading 0.33% vanadium pentoxide.

The estimate comprised of oxide resources of 96 Mt grading 0.34% vanadium pentoxide and fresh resources of 88 Mt grading 0.33% vanadium pentoxide.

In October 2018, Lithium Australia secured an option to acquire the Youanmi lithium project from Diversity Resources Pty Ltd. to potentially feed its Generation 3 pilot plant in Western Australia.

The company said it will evaluate the metallurgical characteristics of the oxide mineralization at Younami, initially targeting the potential for direct leaching of vanadium and associated base metals. A drilling program at the project is being planned, in order to recover a reasonable amount of oxide material over the full depth of the oxidized profile.

In addition, a preliminary evaluation of the fresh material will be undertaken, with a drilling program to be conducted at the nearby lithium pegmatites in the September quarter.