Spodumene is a mineral found all across the globe, primarily in Australia, Africa, and North America. Chemically a lithium aluminum silicate, it occurs in granite pegmatites.
The ore, naturally containing up to 4.5% lithium oxide, is processed via gravity, heavy media, flotation and magnetic processes into a range of spodumene concentrates from 5.0 to 7.2% lithium oxide. Further operating modes are employed to make products that are intended to meet specific customer and application requirements.