Lithium Grade-Recovery Testwork Comparator
Compare lithium flotation or beneficiation tests on one transparent table and grade–recovery plot: derive recovery from the assays, see which tests sit on the Pareto frontier, and rank them only against weights you set.
Testwork table
| Test | Feed % | Conc % | Tail % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Grade–recovery comparison
Everything runs in your browser. Inputs are never saved or transmitted.
- Set grade and recovery weights to rank tests — no default winner is chosen.
| Test | Grade | Recovery | Frontier |
|---|
Assumptions & basis
- Frontier: Non-dominated on higher grade AND higher recovery (derived)
Before you rely on this: First-pass guide only. Verify safety-critical or regulated work against the relevant standards, your project requirements and a qualified professional.
How to use this calculator
- Enter each test's feed, concentrate and tailings Li₂O grade (a row per test).
- The tool derives recovery and mass pull and plots concentrate grade versus recovery.
- Optionally set grade and recovery weights to score the tests — nothing is declared 'best' until you do.
How it works
For each test, recovery and mass pull come from the two-product balance (mass pull Y = (f − t)/(c − t); recovery R = Y·c/f). Because grade and recovery usually trade off, there is rarely one winner: a test is on the Pareto frontier if no other test beats it on BOTH concentrate grade and recovery. Frontier tests are the real candidates; dominated tests are beaten on both counts.
A weighted score is shown only when you provide grade and recovery weights. It min-max normalises each objective across the tests and sums the weighted, normalised values (weights are scaled to add to 1; a zero-range objective is treated as neutral). This keeps the decision explicit and in your hands rather than hiding it behind a default ranking.
Worked example
Five spodumene flotation tests. Tests from ~4.7% to 6.4% Li₂O concentrate grade trade grade against recovery. Plotting them shows the non-dominated trade-off set; a metallurgist who needs at least 5.5% product grade can then weight grade over recovery to pick a preferred test — a choice the tool supports but never makes automatically.
Common mistakes
- Comparing tests with different feed grades or bases as if they were equivalent.
- Reading the highest recovery as 'best' — it usually comes with the lowest grade.
- Expecting a winner without setting weights; the tool deliberately won't choose one for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pareto frontier?
The set of tests that are not beaten on both grade and recovery by any other test. These are the genuine trade-off options; everything else is dominated.
Why won't it just tell me the best test?
Because 'best' depends on what you value. Set grade and recovery weights and the tool ranks accordingly, with a transparent, reproducible score.
Related tools
- Lithium Flotation Recovery & Mass Balance Calculator
- Metal Recovery Calculator
- Multi-Stage Flotation Circuit Calculator
- Lithium DMS Recovery Calculator
- Lithium, Li2O & LCE Conversion Calculator
- Concentrate Moisture & Dry Tonnage Calculator
Explore more in Mining, Quarry, Earthworks, Drill & Blast.
Cite this tool
Zerdly. (2026). Lithium Grade-Recovery Testwork Comparator. Retrieved from https://www.zerdly.com/tools/lithium-grade-recovery-testwork-comparator/
Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.
All calculations run in your browser. Your inputs are never saved or transmitted.