Future Metals NL (ASX: FME | AIM: FME) has reported enhanced metallurgical recoveries from the leaching of flotation tailings, reagent optimization test work, and the chromite concentrate potential for its wholly owned Panton project.
Jardee Kininmonth, managing director of Future Metals, said “We have achieved another metallurgical breakthrough for the Panton project, potentially creating a step-change in PGM recoveries, de-risking the flowsheet, and improving project economics through leaching of flotation tails.”
Recoveries improved to 86% from 78% through successful tailings leaching, and the findings de-risk the process flowsheet for Panton, improving the project economics.
Flotation reagent optimization test work reduced reagent consumption whilst maintaining PGM3E recoveries with a concentrate grade of over 280g/t PGM3E, and the concentrate grades are in line and exceed analogous South African PGM operations.
Additionally, the company is in the process of finalizing a scoping study on the project’s 6.9Moz JORC resource to demonstrate a credible path towards developing a low capital, high-grade PGM-Ni operation.
Kininmonth continued, “We can now expect to recover approximately 86% of PGM metals from Panton ore feed and importantly over 93% of palladium. Combined with our ability to consistently achieve more than 280g/t PGM3E (palladium, platinum and gold) concentrate grades, Panton compares very favourably to analogous South African PGM operations.”
Further, Future Metals has stated that the chromite concentrate from its flotation tails represents a potentially high value by-product, with prices increasing by 50% over the past 12 months.
To find out more, please visit www.futuremetals.com
