The beneficiation pilot plant is the first stage of Arafura’s final piloting of the Nolans process flow sheet.
The beneficiation piloting operation was completed during November-December at ALS Global’s facilities in Perth.
Arafura managed the program under advice from equipment manufacturers and independent engineering organisations.
The pilot plant’s success, including materials handling and equipment performance data, will be utilised for detailed design and final feasibility.
The pilot is expected to confirm previous bench scale results and sighter tests. The grab samples taken throughout the pilot operations would indicate whether this has been achieved.
The program has resulted in the production of a high-phosphate concentrate (HPC) from approximately 14 tonnes of phosphate-rich plant feed.
Arafura will report confirmatory data relating to grade and recovery, and iron and aluminium rejection, in the first quarter of 2017 on receipt of validated assays.
The company is now directing its attention to preparing for piloting of the phosphoric acid pre-leach process, using the beneficiation pilot concentrate as feed.
Arafura is well funded with a cash balance of $10 million as at 30 September 2016.