Raymor, McGill team up for lithium project

Quebec City-based Raymor Industries (RAR-V) is collaborating with researchers from McGill University on a project designed to achieve commercial production of lithium metal from the mineral spodumene.

The processing technique was developed at McGill’s Mining and Metallurgy Department under the direction of Ralph Harris. McGill is applying for a U.S. patent for its process.

Since June 1999, testing at McGill’s laboratories has produced lithium metal directly from spodumene, including material from Raymor’s wholly owned Lamotte property, near Amos, Que., where Raymor completed a prefeasibility study in 1999.

Once the patent is granted, McGill intends to grant Raymor an exclusive 5-year licensing agreement for the worldwide rights to this process, in exchange for 200,000 Raymor shares. The deal is expected to close in January.