A mineral development company will use a $500,000 contribution from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to test the conversion of lithium mineral petalite into lithium hydroxide, a key component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Toronto-based Avalon Advanced Minerals is working on claims at Separation Rapids in the Kenora area. It describes it as one of the largest petalite sites of its type in the world, with low levels of impurities.
Since acquiring the property in 1996, Avalon has spent $10 million on exploration and development work.
According to an announcement from Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, the company's research into a new process to make lithium-ion batteries from petalite will create and maintain 14 new jobs.
In a news release, Avalon CEO Donald Bubar described the Heritage funding as "critical financial support," adding that it shows how northern Ontario's mineral wealth can be leveraged to help the province become a leader in the technology needed to transition to a low carbon economy.
The company says industry analysts predict the global demand for lithium will double over the next decade because of growing demand for rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles and home energy storage.
