Anglesey Mining PLC (AIM:AYM) has reported better recoveries than expected from metallurgical tests on ore from the White Rock and Engine zones at its Parys Mountain project in Wales.
A blend of material from the two zones was sent for testing in June comprising a combined head grade of 0.42% copper, 3.60% zinc, 3.08% lead, 49 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 0.7g/t gold (10.8% ZnEq).
The blend was 3.3 (White Rock) to 1.0 (Engine Zone), the combination expected in the early stages of production.
Jo Battershill, Anglesey Mining’s chief executive, said he was “very pleased” with the results, especially copper and gold recoveries which were 32% and 63% respectively above the earlier forecasts.
The ore was also shown to be amenable to both DMS and XRT pre-concentration methods with the potential feed grade increased by over 50%.
Battershill said: “Successful pre-concentration has many benefits ranging from increased feed grade into the processing plant, lower volumes of tailings for disposal and the potential to build smaller, lower cost processing infrastructure.
“We will now investigate the relevant capital and operating costs for each option to determine the most optimal route to move forward within the planned pre-feasibility study.”