Australian heavy rare earths producer Northern Minerals Limited [ASX: NTU) is pleased to announce that it has progressed its ore sorting project enhancement initiative with the commissioning and testing of the sorter system and is now producing ore sorted material and converting this to a 30% TREO concentrate in its’ Browns Range beneficiation plant.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bulk sample test completed on 4,479 tonnes of ore from Wolverine, the largest orebody at Browns Range.
- Tests results show a 45% grade increase to the mill and over 95% TREO recovery when feeding a 0.9% TREO Wolverine ore to the ore sorter circuit.
- Bulks sample tests have highlighted additional key factors to consider for ore sorting that are not apparent from small scale tests.
- Initial ore sorting tests on Banshee material shows amenability to sorting, with further testwork planned.
- Effective sorting of the lower grade Banshee material has potential to increase the Browns Range Mineral Ore Reserve estimate.
Northern Minerals’ CEO, Mark Tory, said
“The construction, commissioning and testing of the ore sorter circuit marks another milestone in the development of the Browns Range Project.
“The positive bulk sample tests confirm the effectiveness of the ore sorting circuit on the Wolverine ore to significantly increase the head grade to the mill which is expected to result in higher production rates and lower operating costs for a full scale operation at Browns Range.
“It’s also pleasing to see the initial ore sorting tests the Banshee ore showing promise which, if shown to be effective in future tests, has potential to significantly increase the Browns Range Mineral Resource Estimate.
“Being able to test and operate the ore sorting circuit in conjunction with the pilot beneficiation plant is providing extremely valuable data that you just can’t get from small bench scale tests and this will feed into our feasibility study for a potential commercial scale heavy rare earth operation at Browns Range”.
View the full Ore Sorter announcement
View the full Annual Financial Statements announcement
