Manganese X Energy (TSXV: MN) received an encouraging update from Kemetco Research who is developing a commercial flow sheet to produce ultrahigh-purity (greater than 99.9%) battery-grade manganese for the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.
The manganese is obtained at the company’s Battery Hill property located in New Brunswick, where a 99.60% MnSO4 product was produced.
A 2012 research project on the Woodstock area revealed that it hosts a series of banded iron formations that collectively constitute one of the largest manganese resources in North America, approximately 194 million tonnes
“The objective of this phase of the project is to further enhance the purity and produce sufficient samples for marketing purposes,” the miner said in a press release.
According to Manganese X, Kemetco Research has built a mini-pilot plant dedicated to this project and is currently assessing various purification options to minimize impurities in the final manganese sulfate product.
“Test results are positive, indicating higher purity as compared to previous results. The quality of the MnSO4 product generated during this program will be evaluated to develop a more robust conceptual flow sheet,” the media brief states. “The exact experimental program, associated tasks and schedules may change as more development is obtained, but the company expects additional results in the next four weeks.”
The Battery Hill property consists of 55 claims covering 1,228 hectares approximately 5 kilometre northwest of the town of Woodstock in Carlton County, southwestern New Brunswick. It encompasses all or parts of five manganese-iron zones including Iron Ore Hill, Moody Hill, Sharpe Farm, Maple Hill and Wakefield.
