Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT) announced a metallurgical breakthrough, identifying a standalone development pathway to produce high-value Sulphate of Potash and hydrochloric acid from lake clays at its Lake Hope and Salmon Gums projects.
The discovery marks a strategic pivot toward a dual-commodity model, operating in parallel with the company’s flagship high purity alumina development.
Unlike previous Australian SoP ventures that struggled with the unpredictability of solar evaporation ponds, Impact's new "Salt Calcination" route relies on a controlled thermal process.
Recent bench-scale testing yielded exceptional results, with potassium and sulphate recoveries exceeding 94%, and chlorine extraction surpassing 98%.
During this process, lake clays are heated with chloride salts to extract nutrients into a solution, while the released chlorine gas is captured and condensed into hydrochloric acid—a critical reagent for the Goldfields' mining sector.
The company has secured multiple additional lakes near Salmon Gums to serve as primary feedstock sources.
The sites offer a geographical advantage, positioned closer to the agricultural Wheatbelt for SoP distribution and the Eastern Goldfields for acid demand.
Managing Director Dr. Mike Jones highlighted the potential to "fill a noticeable supply gap."
A formal scoping study is currently underway to evaluate the commercial scale and infrastructure synergies of this high-margin industrial pathway.
At the time of reporting, Impact Minerals' share price was $0.059.