Feasibility Study on Pre-concentration of Lithium Ore from Udawa Deposit Using Hydrocyclones

This study investigates the feasibility of pre-concentrating lithium ore from the Udawa deposit using hydrocyclones as a pre-treatment method. The escalating demand for lithium, driven by its pivotal role in energy storage for electric vehicles, mobile devices, and renewable energy systems, makes the efficient extraction of this mineral essential. The Udawa deposit, located in Kaduna State, Nigeria, is rich in lithium-bearing minerals within rare-metal pegmatites. Traditional methods for processing lithium ore, such as flotation and gravity separation, are often energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. Hydrocyclones, gravity-based separators, present a promising solution for pre-concentration by efficiently removing gangue minerals and increasing the grade of lithium ore before further processing. The study focused on optimizing the use of hydrocyclones to separate gangue and improve the lithium concentration in the underflow fraction. Results showed that the hydrocyclone effectively upgraded the ore, increasing lithium oxide (Li<sub>2</sub>O) content from 3.03% in the feed to 4.2% in the underflow, while minimizing gangue in the overflow. The study also highlighted the potential of integrating hydrocyclone pre-concentration with flotation and magnetic separation to maximize lithium recovery. This approach not only reduces processing costs and energy consumption but also supports Nigeria’s economic diversification goals by promoting local mineral processing. The research recommends further optimization of operational parameters and the exploration of industrial-scale applications to improve the efficiency of lithium extraction and recovery from the Udawa pegmatite deposit.