Doré Copper Mining Corp told investors that recent testwork had shown that using ore sorting technology could improve the grade and lower costs at its flagship Corner Bay project in Quebec.
The testing was undertaken on a sample taken from a stockpile at surface which was extracted during the preparation of a 2008 bulk sample, the firm noted.
The results showed that the grade of the pre-concentrate tested with the ore sorter increased 2.6 times, from 2.66% copper to 6.84% copper, with a recovery of 95.5% copper by using an X-ray transmission (XRT) sensor.
"This initial sorting test is very positive, indicating that the grade of Corner Bay can be significantly upgraded," Ernest Mast, CEO at Doré Copper Mining, said in a statement.
"The upcoming PEA will include a trade-off study on the integration of ore sorting technology for Corner Bay and its potential economic benefits.
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"Based on the historical sorting test work and the nature of the mineralization at the Devlin deposit, our secondary hub-and-spoke asset, we expect that ore sorting could also be successful there. Future development work will include additional ore sorting tests in different areas of the deposits."
The company said ore sorting at Corner Bay would have the following cost and environmental benefits:
- Decrease in transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) due to a reduction of transported material from mine to mill
- Decrease energy consumption at the mill due to the higher feed grade and hardness decrease of the feed material
- Reduce production of fine tailings
- Increase capacity of the mill to treat additional materials
Mast also noted that ore sorting opened up "new alternatives for the mill that require additional analysis" and that the firm was now planning to have the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed by the end of the first quarter of 2022.
"In addition, it will incorporate an updated mineral resource for Corner Bay which will include positive drill results that now connect the area between the Main Zone (below the dyke) and the Lower Deep Vein. We expect to have all the assay results in January. This area is expected to add significant tonnage as it is now considered waste in the current resource," added the company boss.
The company aims to be the next copper producer in Québec with a production target of over 50 million pounds (Mlbs) of copper equivalent annually.
It has a 'hub-and spoke' operation model with multiple high-grade copper-gold assets feeding a centralized 2,700 tonnes per day mill.
The company boasts a large land package in the prolific Lac Doré/Chibougamau and Joe Mann mining camps that has produced 1.6 billion pounds of copper and 4.4 million ounces of gold. The package includes 13 former producing mines, deposits and resource target areas within a 60-kilometre radius of the firm's Copper Rand Mill.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com