Growth focused Western Australian nickel company St George Mining (ASX: SGQ) has reported excellent results from metallurgical test work on nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation from its flagship Mt Alexander Project, located in the north-eastern Goldfields.
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Preliminary test work completed in Perth confirms excellent metallurgical recoveries and concentrate grades for massive and disseminated nickel-copper sulphides from the Investigators Prospect.
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Separate clean saleable nickel and copper concentrates were generated in a conventional flotation circuit test.
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Very high recovery of Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) in both the nickel and copper concentrates including from disseminated sulphides.
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Nickel concentrate produced at the following grades:
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16.2% Ni from massive sulphides at 90.6% recovery with 6.26 g/t total PGEs.
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13.5% Ni from disseminated sulphides at 62% recovery with 8.10 g/t total PGEs.
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Copper concentrate produced at the following grades:
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30.3% Cu from massive sulphides at 90.6% recovery with 7.39 g/t total PGEs.
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25.1% Cu from disseminated sulphides with 59.8% recovery with 18.1 g/t total PGEs.
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Strong payable cobalt recoveries in the nickel concentrates with 0.59% Co in concentrate from massive sulphides and 0.50% Co in concentrate from disseminated sulphides.
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High silver values of 52 g/t Ag in copper concentrate produced from massive sulphides.
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Ore samples are also amenable to bulk flotation with similar recoveries, providing optionality for processing and marketing strategies for potential project development.
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Detailed metallurgical test work is also underway in Canada on ore samples from the Stricklands deposit for incorporation in the scoping study for a potential mining operation at Mt Alexander.
Preliminary metallurgical test work has been completed by Strategic Metallurgy Pty Ltd in Perth on samples of massive and disseminated mineralisation from drill hole MAD177 completed at the Investigators Prospect.
The objective of this test work was to assess if nickel and copper could be recovered into separate saleable concentrates by flotation process, and to determine the PGE deportment in the concentrates. The results are very favourable and are likely to have a positive impact on project economics for a potential mining operation at Mt Alexander.
John Prineas, St George Mining’s Executive Chairman, said:
“We are delighted with the early results of this metallurgical test work programme. The high quality of our Mt Alexander mineralisation has been confirmed with separate clean nickel and copper concentrates produced from both the massive and disseminated sulphides.
“Importantly, we are seeing high values of PGEs, cobalt and silver – all of which could generate significant credits and have a positive impact on the economics for a potential mining operation at Mt Alexander which is currently being assessed by ongoing studies.
“We are confident that the metallurgical results can be further optimised as we undertake more detailed test work and progress marketing studies to maximise potential net smelter revenues.”
