St George Mining Ltd has launched a metallurgical test work program at the Araxá Project in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil, focusing on optimising niobium and rare earth element (REE) recoveries via flotation processing.
The study is being conducted under a technical co-venture between SGQ and two of Brazil’s leading science agencies, EMBRAPII and SENAI.
The test work will assess three large representative samples of mineralisation – each being more than 60 kilograms – with a range of mineralisation from different rock formations across the project area.
The samples will undergo bench-scale testing to ensure a reliable basis for process optimisation across the project tenure.
Raft of work programs due to begin
“We have a number of important work programs scheduled to commence in the coming weeks including our maiden drill campaign, geophysical surveys, geotechnical studies and downstream processing studies – as well as the release of our maiden JORC mineral resource estimate,” St George Mining executive chair John Prineas said.
“We are pleased to confirm the commencement of the first phase of metallurgical test work in collaboration with two leading scientific agencies in Brazil – EMBRAPII and SENAI – to develop a flowsheet for the processing and production of commercial niobium and rare earths products from the Araxá Project.
“In the first phase of the test work, we will assess the potential use of new technologies in traditional flotation circuits to maximise recoveries, reduce waste and lower costs.
“Our highly credentialled in-country mining team – with many years of niobium mining and production at Araxá – allows us to fast track these development studies.
“Working together with the leading scientists at SENAI and the well-equipped lab at CIT-SENAI in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State will also assist to expedite these studies and deliver outcomes that will guide the project’s path to potential commercial production.”
St George says its downstream processing study will provide guidance for the potential commercial production of niobium and REE products from Araxá, delivering critical data to finalise the plant design and project construction for a potential mining operation.