ioneer (ASX:INR) said it confirmed a 7% to 14% increase in lithium carbonate and boric acid produced for each tonne of acid consumed in sulfuric acid and reagent efficiency testwork for its Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, according to a Thursday Australian bourse filing.
It decreased leach time by around 30%, with the overall vat cycle to be reduced from seven days to around six days, allowing for an increase in mine production throughput of 8% to 16%, compared to the current stage 1 design.
More than half of the project's expected operating costs derive from reagents and transportation.
Its shares fell 6% in recent trading on Thursday.