[ferro-alloys.com]Chilean chemicals giant SQM has signalled its growing interest in WA hard rock lithium assets by buying Pilbara ground prospective for the commodity from Metalicity.

SQM will pay $US1 million ($1.35 million) for the explorer’s Pilbara lithium project along with a one per cent net smelter royalty.

While the purchase represents an immaterial acquisition for SQM, it highlights growing global interest in WA’s hard rock lithium assets.

SQM’s focus had been focused on brine projects in South American until it struck a joint venture agreement with Kidman Resources over its Mt Holland lithium project near Southern Cross last year.

The two parties are also eyeing plans for a lithium hydroxide plant at Kwinana, using concentrate produced at Mt Holland as a feedstock.

Hard rock lithium is more easily converted into lithium hydroxide than lithium produced from brine.

The deal with Metalicity comes after news last month that the world’s biggest lithium producer Albemarle had signed a $US1.15 billion deal with Mineral Resources to take a 50 per cent stake in its Wodgina project, also in the Pilbara.

MinRes is already in the process of building a lithium concentrate plant at Wodgina and the two parties will work to progress plans for a lithium hydroxide plant at the site.

Lithium hydroxide offers more energy density and thus greater range for electric vehicle batteries than lithium carbonate.

Metalicity will use the cash to explore 2166sqkm of newly acquired ground prospective for copper in the Paterson province.

（The West Australian）

• [Editor:王可]