Rome Resources Plc (AIM:RMR, FRA:33R) has reported initial results from metallurgical testing of ore samples from its Bisie North project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Testing was completed by SGS on bulk samples from the tin, copper and zinc zones, with the work assessing the potential for commercial recovery of metals from the ore.
Rome resources said the results for copper and tin recovery were encouraging.
Chief executive Paul Barratt, meanhile, highlighted: "These preliminary results are highly encouraging for the potential commercialisation of both the tin and copper at Bisie North. As the copper is developed at shallow depths in the Mont Agoma deposit, recovery and monetisation of this is expected to be highly accretive to the overall project economics.
"Currently, the drilling campaign at Kalayi continues and we will move to Mont Agoma next month to test further the extent of the tin and copper mineralisation. We will update the market in due course."
For the tin zone sample, the company said gravity pre-concentration delivered 80% of tin into a first concentrate. It said the first concentrate graded over 10% Sn from a head grade of 0.6% Sn. It said this was achieved in less than 5% of the mass. For the copper zone sample, Rome Resources said gravity pre-concentration delivered 96% of copper into a concentrate. It said the concentrate graded 3.7% Cu from a head grade of 2.4% Cu. It said this was achieved in less than 63% of the mass.
The small cap firm also reported flotation results for the copper sample. It said 95.5% of copper reported to rougher flotation at a grade of 9.5% Cu. The company said zinc in the sample followed copper and differential flotation may be considered to separate copper and zinc. In all cases, it expects the cleaning of tin and copper concentrates will be required to raise grades to export levels.