Alexander Mining PLC said it is attracting increasing interest in its MetaLeach mineral processing technologies.
Since announcing interim results in September 2008, the number of multinational mining groups, as well as intermediate and junior companies eager to investigate the potential of Alexander's technology has expanded, the group said in an operations update.
The company, which is now entirely focused on the commercialisation of its proprietary mineral processing technologies, said it has signed 10 revenue generating agreements with mining companies to date and is in discussions for many more.
AmmLeach, for which patents are pending, is an ammonia-based process which has the potential to revolutionise the extraction processes for high acid consuming copper and zinc oxide deposits, the group said. The process has excellent potential for developing a new solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) process for producing high purity zinc metal or an intermediate product at the mine.
The other process is HyperLeach, a proprietary ambient temperature and pressure process for the leaching and extraction of base metals from sulphide ores and concentrates.
Alexander added it has already received test-work payments and the pipeline of amenability test-work programmes is increasing steadily. A major campaign to grow this revenue stream is under way, with the aim of securing future royalties and/or free carried equity interests in attractive base metals projects and/or mines.