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    CSIRO petalite lithium research: processing routes and flowsheet notes for engineers

    February 11, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    CSIRO petalite lithium research: processing routes and flowsheet notes for engineers

    First reported on Australian Mining

    30 Second Briefing

    CSIRO is investigating petalite as an alternative lithium source to conventional spodumene, focusing on new extraction pathways that can handle its different mineralogy and lower Li₂O grades. Researchers are assessing thermochemical and hydrometallurgical routes to convert petalite concentrates into battery-grade lithium chemicals, aiming to adapt existing spodumene flowsheets with modified roasting and leaching conditions. The work targets deposits where petalite is dominant in the pegmatite assemblage, potentially unlocking resources that are currently uneconomic under standard spodumene-based processing.

    Technical Brief

    • CSIRO’s work focuses on petalite-bearing pegmatites where conventional spodumene concentrators underperform or are idle.

    Our Take

    CSIRO’s work on petalite comes as our database shows other lithium coverage is still dominated by spodumene deals such as Pilbara Minerals’ recent offtake with Canmax, signalling industry interest in diversifying feedstock beyond the current hard‑rock standard.

    Within the 100 lithium‑keyword pieces in our coverage, Australia largely appears in the context of high‑grade spodumene exports, so petalite research could position Australian projects to monetise lower‑grade or currently uneconomic pegmatites if processing routes prove competitive.

    CSIRO has recently been calling for tighter collaboration between miners, METS and researchers on low‑emissions technologies, and petalite‑based lithium flowsheets would likely be evaluated not only on recovery but also on their carbon and energy intensity relative to conventional spodumene routes.

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    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

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