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As AVZ Minerals approaches the home straight of its definitive feasibility study, the lithium developer has revealed that the first phase of its heavy metals test work has yielded potentially saleable tin and tantalum concentrates from its Manono lithium project in the DRC. AVZ recovered a total of 63% tin at a grade of 64.1% cassiterite, using the company's existing lithium metallurgical flow sheet.

Perth-listed lithium developer, AVZ Minerals, has achieved an impressive average of 69% fine lithia recoveries from stage two metallurgical flotation test work at its giant Manono lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Elsewhere at the nearby Carriere de l'Este deposit, AVZ conducted initial test work and found randomly sampled high grade sections from diamond core that produced a 2.37% lithium oxide sample.

AVZ Minerals is moving to lock in a binding offtake agreement with Yibin Tianyi after the Chinese lithium chemical player tipped an initial $1m into AVZ whilst the Foreign Investment Review Board runs the ruler over Yibin Tianyi's intention to plough over $14m into AVZ. Tibin Tianyi is a star-studded Chinese partnership that involves some of the biggest industrial names in China.

AVZ Minerals is on the home stretch of its mammoth DFS, which is due to hit the market next month, with phase two metallurgical test work delivering another exceptional batch of results that reinforce the potential economic viability of its Manono lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A bulk 2,000 kilogram sample yielded a 160-kilogram concentrate grading 6.1% lithium oxide at over 60% lithia recovery.

AVZ Minerals has executed a binding memorandum of understanding with the Congolese Government to create a “special economic zone” for the Manono Lithium and tin project in the Tanganyika Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A special economic zone has the potential to deliver significant economic stimulus to both AVZ and the local communities around Manono, with tax breaks high on the list.

The market doesn't have long to wait now to find out exactly how much hard cash can be churned out of the world's largest undeveloped lithium mine as AVZ Minerals says it is 95% through its definitive feasibility study for the giant Manono lithium-tin project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. AVZ is now teetering right on the edge of making that difficult leap from explorer to miner.

AVZ Minerals' has inked a deal with the DRC Government to probe a potential refurbishment of a hydro-electric power station near its giant Manono lithium project. The old power station has been mothballed for years but potentially presents as a future power source for AVZ's rapidly advancing lithium project that boasts possibly the largest undeveloped lithium resource in the world today.

Africa-focused lithium developer, AVZ Minerals appears on track to deliver its definitive feasibility study in the first few months of 2020 at its massive Manono lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Phase two metallurgical test work continues to deliver encouraging results in support of the ongoing DFS. Testing previously generated a spodumene concentrate that exceeds 6% lithium oxide and the company says that phase two met results are lining up well.

Emerging global lithium player, AVZ Minerals, has recruited the services of African mining veteran, Dr John Clarke, as it prepares to take its massive Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the next level. Dr Clarke, a former Ashanti Goldfields executive, will become AVZ's non-executive chairman at the end of the year, bringing to the table a vast wealth of experience from across the Continent.

AVZ Minerals' quest to develop the giant Manono lithium project in the DRC has been given a major shot in the arm after it received $14.1 million from Chinese lithium chemical producer, Yibin Tianyi. The strategic investment, which could lead to an offtake agreement, will allow AVZ to increase its stake in the project and start early development works as it completes Manono's definitive feasibility study.

AVZ Minerals has commenced environmental and social impact studies at its Manono lithium project, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, appointing in-country organisation, EmiAfrica, to conduct the work. The studies will form the bases of its later ESIA documentation for permitting the project. The company also met with stakeholders and dignitaries in the region affected by the future mining proposal for Manono.

AVZ Minerals has met with officials from the Tanzanian Govt, regarding infrastructure and transport options for proposed future shipments of its Manono lithium project ores through the Port of Dar es Salaam. The company also revealed this week that it had appointed mining veteran, Michael Hughes, as its new Project Director, to steer the future development of the Manono operation in the DRC.

AVZ Minerals has concluded Phase 1 met test work for its amazing Manono lithium-tin project in Africa, which continues to deliver encouraging ore grades and metal recoveries in line with other global lithium projects. The company said it had now moved onto the Phase 2 confirmatory programs and is close to appointing an experienced Non-Executive Chairman to guide Manono's ongoing development.

AVZ Minerals has completed its Phase 1 metallurgical test work program for the Manono lithium-tin project in Africa, which continued to deliver strongly encouraging results in line with other global lithium-mineralised pegmatite ores and supports its ongoing DFS. Testing has generated a spodumene concentrate that exceeds 6% lithium oxide and the company will now scale-up the work to a pilot-scale size.

AVZ Minerals' metallurgical test work programs for its Manono lithium-tin project in the DRC, have delivered encouraging results in line with other global lithium-mineralised pegmatite ores and support its ongoing DFS. Testing has generated similar rock characteristics and strengths to other spodumene-bearing ore deposits and heavy liquid separation produced a high-grade concentrate at 6.2% lithium oxide, with a 66% concentrate recovery.

AVZ Minerals has appointed well-credentialled, Perth-based, GR Engineering Services to oversee delivery of the definitive feasibility study for its Manono lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by the June quarter of 2020. On-site, DFS work programs are continuing on schedule with metallurgical test work well underway and dewatering programs for the historical Roche Dure open pit having commenced.

AVZ Minerals will control 65% of the Manono lithium-tin project in the south-eastern region of the DRC after paying USD$5.5m to private company Dathomir Mining Resources SARL for an additional 5% stake in the tier-1 deposit. The monies are payable to Dathomir within three years and the agreement will generate an additional NPV of USD$130m for the company based on recent scoping study results.

AVZ Minerals has formed a strategic relationship with Chinese cobalt manufacturer Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt to advance the DFS for its giant Manono lithium-tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Besides lending AVZ its experience in the DRC and mainland China, Huayou will also prove the company with advice and assistance in other areas such as project financing and offtake financing.

AVZ Minerals has initiated a DFS for its Manono lithium project in the DRC after a scoping study outlined that a 5Mtpa operation could generate a whopping pre-tax NPV of USD$2.63b at an IRR of 64%. Manono boasts one of the world's greatest lithium resources at 400 million tonnes grading 1.65% lithium oxide and 715ppm tin, most likely placing it in the top three lithium deposits around the globe.