Celsius Resources Limited’s (ASX:CLA) Namibian subsidiary Opuwo Cobalt Mining Pty Ltd has commenced drilling at the Opuwo Cobalt Project.
The first of eight PQ diamond drill holes has been completed. The ore was intercepted at the exact location modelled reinforcing the consistent nature of the Dolomite Ore Formation (DOF).
Heavy rains delayed initial site mobilisation, however, drilling is now occurring on two shifts and the remaining seven holes are scheduled to be completed by end of April.
Approximately four tonnes of fresh metallurgical sample will be obtained during the programme.
Metallurgical Test Work
Past metallurgical test work carried out on Opuwo focused on producing a concentrate via flotation and then recovering the cobalt via either autoclave leaching or concentrate roasting.
With a better understanding of the ore mineralogy, opportunities have arisen for enhancing the commercial viability of Opuwo through application of tailored metallurgical processes.
Celsius’ management says the company intends to conduct a number of separate and bespoke metallurgical test work studies with different groups with specific expertise.
Celsius MD, Robert Gregory, said a promising metallurgical route being investigated involves the initial production of a low-grade bulk concentrate that maximises the recovered metal values from the ore that include cobalt, copper and zinc.
The bulk concentrate is then treated in an acidic leach process that also maximises the extraction of the contained metal values and importantly results in low volumes of benign waste materials mainly in the form of silicates.
More importantly for Opuwo, the high pyrite content can result in separate saleable products in the form of high-grade hematite and elemental sulphur or sulfuric acid.
Mr Gregory said that crucially the acid added to the leach is regenerated at high energy efficiency and low operating costs. All the steps in these possible flowsheets are borrowed from known commercial technologies applied across a number of applications.
“The Opuwo Project has the potential to be a world-class source of future cobalt supply. The conclusion of the drill program to generate ore samples for the commencement of the metallurgical testing and development work programmes is an important step in establishing the feasibility of the Opuwo project,” Mr Gregory said.
“Of note, the identified processing options encompass both low cost and reduced environmental footprint that aligns with the increasing demand for cobalt and copper in electric vehicles.”
For further information please visit: https://celsiusresources.com.au/
