Australian Vanadium Ltd's (ASX:AVL) latest results from ongoing bench and pilot-scale test work indicates higher than anticipated vanadium grades with low silica and alumina content.
As per the December 2019 pre-feasibility study (PFS), the company’s target concentrate quality is 1.4% vanadium pentoxide with less than 2% silica.
Positively, the weighted average of the results produced a concentrate grade of 1.44% vanadium pentoxide with a 1.37% silica content.
The test work is providing incremental improvements in the lead up to the roast/leach pilot work due to commence in September at a US-based laboratory.
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AVL’s chief operating officer Todd Richardson said: “The low silica content, at 1.37%, combined with an improved V2O5 grade of 1.44% is likely to reduce reagent usage and improve overall throughput in the refinery.
“Silica consumes soda ash in the roasting process, which also decreases vanadium recovery.”
AVL is focused on delivering a final operating cost for the project which is well inside the lowest quartile of vanadium producers.
Test work will continue in conjunction with ongoing work to establish financing and off-take agreements.