Alta Zinc Limited (ASX: AZI) has achieved significantly high metallurgical recoveries from a new testing programme conducted on samples of zinc and lead mineralisation at the Gorno Project in Italy.
Managing Director, Geraint Harris, said the pre-feasibility study level testwork showed that recoveries at 96% for zinc, 74.2% for lead and 59.1% for silver can be achieved.
Mr Harris said the tests also proved that a simple crush, grind, flotation processing route – similar to that used with success historically at Gorno can be successfully implemented.
The zinc concentrate grade is 63.3% Zn with exceptionally low iron and silica values. The lead concentrate grade is 75.8% Pb with 810g/t Ag contained and also has exceptionally low levels of contaminants.
Mr Harris said Alta has conducted a preliminary independent concentrate marketing study which confirms that these concentrates will be amongst the highest grade and cleanest concentrates available globally. As such they are likely to be highly sought after by European and worldwide smelters looking to improve the blend of their feedstock from the growing international supply of complex concentrates.
“These results demonstrate the outstanding advantages that Gorno provides with our successful exploration campaign confirming the growth potential of our current resource, coupled with world-class metallurgy in the heart of the European market,” Mr Harris said.
“The results are in line with the well-known historical processing performance and concentrate quality from Gorno, resulting in a processing flow sheet that looks like an updated version of what was historically built at Gorno.
“There is opportunity to further improve the metal recoveries, maximise the commercial benefits of our concentrates and confirm the response of the historically processed Breno and Thrust style mineralisation for the current flowsheet.”
Mr Geraint said that the Coronavirus situation has significantly improved in Italy and particularly in Bergamo province.
“As such, industry and many businesses are returning to normal operation and our staff have safely returned to the Gorno project site to continue work. Our drilling contractor, Edilmac, is ready and waiting to return to drilling at Gorno and we expect that to re-commence during the month of June.
“Alta are also very pleased that throughout the lock-down period both the Regional and National Regulators have continued to work remotely on our Mining Licence renewal and have continued to be responsive, despite the challenging circumstances.
“At site there are drill samples waiting to be dispatched to the laboratory and therefore, despite the break in site-based work, Alta will be able to keep shareholders updated with further news as those results become available.”
