Europa Metals Ltd (LON:EUZ) has announced metallurgical test-work results for its Toral project that "demonstrates excellent lead, zinc and silver recovery and grades”.
An independent consultant tested the grade and recoveries from three distinct sample types, namely: TOD-025H, a high-grade sample; TOD-025L, a low-grade sample; and TOD-024, a weathered sample obtained from Europa's last drilling campaign.
Europa’s board believes the recovery and grade results are significantly above average compared with concentrates available in the current market, with the lead concentrate grade (combined to a cleaner+scavenger product), considered by the board to rank amongst the highest concentrate grades globally.
Ore sorting analysis has demonstrated the potential for implementing an X-Ray Transmission (XRT) process at the Toral project, in northern Spain, based on the findings of Bara Consulting's independent report.
The TOD-025H sample yielded “excellent grade and recovery results” including 83.9% lead (Pb) recovery to a 79.2% Pb concentrate; 87.7% silver (Ag) recovery to 512 parts per million (ppm) Ag within Pb concentrate; and 87.7% zinc (Zn) recovery to a 60.0% Zn concentrate.
Ore sorting results using XRT from sample TOD-025L achieved 98% Pb, 94% Zn and 82% Ag recoveries; 45%-50% waste rejected; and roughly a 3-4 times increase in head grade.
Post ore sorting flotation results on sample TOD-025L concentrates were 89.4% and 81.5% Pb/Ag recoveries to a lead-silver concentrate grading 53.8% Pb and 640 g/t Ag respectively, and 84.7% Zn recoveries to a 52.4% Zn concentrate grade.
Ore sorting results for lower grade sample from TOD-024, an area previously not considered in the 2018 scoping study, using XRT achieved 98% Pb, 97% Zn and 92% Ag recoveries; 45% - 50% waste rejection; and a two-times increase in head grade.
With the post ore sorting flotation results on sample TOD-024 concentrates, analysis indicates that this ore type may be beneficiated through sorting plus flotation of the sorted products. Europa revealed 73% Pb, 84% Zn and 81% Ag recoveries to 16.0% Pb, 18.6% Zn and 165 g/t Ag concentrate grade were achieved from this sample.
“While Europa Metals is extremely pleased with the results from the TOD-025, high-grade, sample, it is of particular note that ore sorting could well bring new areas of the deposit's overall resource into the mineable area having previously been discounted due to the low-grade nature of the ore,” said Laurence Read, the chief executive officer of Europa Metals.
"We are now progressing work with Bara to determine the impact of the recent metallurgical studies, ore sorting, updated resource estimate and other work conducted since the 2018 scoping study, on the prospective economics for the Toral Project,” he added,
Myles Campion, the executive chairman of Europa Metals, said the latest set of metallurgical results indicate the potential for more exploitation of the resource at Toral.
“In addition, by investigating the use of XRT in our process route, we expect increased optionality in terms of mining rates and throughput flexibility. Combining the ore sorting results with the very impressive lead concentrate grades achieved from the TOD-025 sample, we firmly believe that Europa Metals is continuing to demonstrate that Toral can provide a high-grade concentrate, whilst allowing for a flexible mining approach,” Campion said.