Ascendant Resources Inc has released the results from its Phase II metallurgical test work program, conducted by Grinding Solutions Limited (GSL), a UK-based mineral processing services firm with strong technical knowledge of mineral processing of IPB ores.
The Toronto-based miner also consulted Micon International, which was responsible for the metallurgical results validation on material from both the massive sulphide and stockwork ores from the Venda Nova North and South Zones, at Ascendant’s Lagoa Salgada VMS project in Portugal.
READ: Ascendant Resources well-placed to capitalize on higher copper prices with its flagship Lagoa Salgada project in Portugal, says Argus Research
The Phase II testing not only provided further information on metal recoveries and concentrate grades, it also supported the use of a conventional polymetallic process flowsheet capable of recovering copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver in three saleable concentrates.
“Flotation tailings will be leached for additional gold and silver values and tin will be recovered from processing the tailings material by flotation,” Ascendant Resources noted in the press statement.
According to the company, due to the limited availability of fresh core, the testing material used was around two years old and partially oxidized, which had a negative impact limiting results at this time.
Additionally, it was stated that Grinding Solutions Ltd is confident that with further work on fresh core, recovery expectations will be in line with or better than the average seen at existing mines on the Iberian Pyrite Belt.
“We are pleased that the test work completed by Grinding Solutions continued to show improved results as compared to our previous results despite having less than ideal material. Grinding Solutions are confident in achieving at least benchmark recoveries for the IBP at Lagoa Salgada,” Mark Brennan, Executive Chairman and interim CEO of Ascendant said in the announcement.
He continued: “Enhanced testing developed a more robust and flexible flowsheet that could handle variability throughout the orebody and if encountered, also efficiently process oxidized fresh feed. We will continue to look for improvements with continued testing, which is likely to culminate in a full pilot test in Q1 2022. Testing of oxidized samples is necessary to fully understand the behaviour of ore characteristics on an industrial scale and the results achieved in the Phase II test work program continues to provide the confidence necessary to initiate a full feasibility metallurgical test work program in Q1 2022.”
Lagoa Salgada contains over 10.33 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Resources at 9.06% zinc equivalent and 2.50 million tonnes of Inferred Resources at 5.93% zinc equivalent in the Northern Zone; and 4.42 million tonnes of Indicated Resources at 1.50% copper equivalent and 10.83 million tonnes of Inferred Resources at 1.35% copper equivalent in the South Zone.
The deposit demonstrates typical mineralization characteristics of Iberian Pyrite Belt VMS deposits containing zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver and gold.
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