Tests Produce Premium Ni and Cu Concentrates
Legend Mining Limited (ASX:LEG) has received positive results from phase 1 sighter metallurgical test work carried out on samples from diamond drillhole RKDD034 at the Mawson prospect within the Rockford project, Fraser Range in Western Australia.
The preliminary flotation test work was undertaken by Strategic Metallurgy Pty Ltd to assess the ability to produce saleable nickel and copper concentrates from the Mawson massive sulphide. The metallurgical samples were taken from diamond drillhole RKDD034 at Mawson.
Legend Managing Director, Mark Wilson, said the results have demonstrated that premium nickel and copper concentrates can be produced by conventional means from Mawson samples.
“The successful outcome of this work has significantly advanced and de-risked our project,” he said.
Highlights:
- Preliminary test work confirms Mawson massive sulphide responds well to conventional flotation
- Rougher recovery up to 98% for copper and 97% for nickel was achieved.
- Recovery of 99% for copper and 88% for nickel to a bulk concentrate grade of 12.0% (Cu+Ni)
- Selective flotation demonstrated the ability to produce separate saleable copper and nickel concentrates: Copper concentrate 31.8% Cu o Nickel concentrate 13.1% Ni
- Nickel concentrate highly desirable to market due to high Fe:MgO ratio (>300) with no other deleterious elements noted.
- Optimisation expected to yield further improvement on current results.
The target minerals in the Mawson massive sulphide are primarily chalcopyrite and pentlandite. No deleterious silicate gangue minerals were noted during testing. Flotation of the massive sulphide sample yielded both bulk and separate saleable copper and nickel concentrates at moderately high recoveries. A simple bulk concentrate flotation flowsheet can produce saleable concentrates at the nominal grade of 12% (Cu+Ni) whilst achieving a high recovery of copper (99.0%) and nickel (88.2%).
Legend is currently finalising the design of diamond and RC drillhole design for the 2021 field season at Mawson.
Field logistics underway for commencement of the field season, while the company is integrating DD, RC, aircore, geochemical and geophysical datasets to evolve 3D emplacement model of Mawson, with new constrained gravity and magnetic inversions underway.
