Resouro has started the next phase of metallurgical testwork on ore from its 1.7 billion tonne Tiros Titanium and Rare Earths project
This phase follows Resouro’s metallurgical test work partner Altilium achieving the highest known rare earth extractions
The upcoming round will inform discussions with offtakers and the Preliminary Economic Assessment
Special Report: Resouro Strategic Metals has commissioned Altilium to start the next phase of testwork on ore from its 1.7 billion tonne Tiros titanium and rare earths project.
The upcoming round is a scaled-up version of the sighter test work completed just a few weeks ago when the metallurgy group achieved the highest known rare earth extractions on Resouro Strategic Metals’ (ASX:RAU) ore.
The ultimate aim of the testwork program is to achieve maximum extraction of the high value minerals with the world’s lowest environmental footprint from pit to end product.
As part of the broader testwork program, sighter testwork establishes whether metals can be extracted easily or not from the ore and is a critical upfront benchmark to prove the concept.
The results announced in August included 96.2% extraction of the high-value magnetic rare earth elements.
That was achieved from testwork on 50kg of representative samples taken from Tiros’ high grade and homogenous material, making the results the world’s highest known REE extractions on non-selective ore intervals.
Taking off
Now a 200kg representative composite sample has been prepared at the project in Brazil’s mining friendly Minas Gerais state to undergo a testwork program in Alitlium’s Brisbane lab.
Using Altilium’s innovative and patented technology, Resouro’s metallurgy partner will focus on the optimisation of leaching parameters and downstream elements over about 30 weeks, with updates to be announced as the work progresses.
This phase of the testwork will include the processing of saleable REE and TiO2 products to be used with potential offtakers.
Resouro has already received numerous unsolicited enquires from large industrial companies in Asia, Europe and North America for TiO2 and REE product and is in preliminary discussions with some of these, while exploring markets for other potential saleable elements in the orebody.
Results from this upcoming phase will allow Resouro to update its financial model for inclusion in the Preliminary Economic Assessment.
Additional testwork will then be undertaken to determine a final process flow sheet and optimise the leaching conditions, such as acid concentration.
Altilium has also started testwork on a 45kg sample already at the lab with the aim of generating residue from the leaching process to produce TiO2 concentrate that can be sent to potential offtakers for that product.
Clean and low cost vision
Among the key benefits of the Altilium’s patented Ti/REE process are that it generates zero waste from a sustainable, environmentally friendly closed-circuit leach process, without the need for a tailings dam.
Resouro president, CEO, director and founder Chris Eager commented: “The initial sighter testwork results provide a proof of concept and indicate that Resouro can achieve high rare earths extraction from Tiros ore. The Altilium Ti/REE process has many advantages over conventional leaching and has the potential to produce a clean TiO2 product.
“This gives us confidence to take the next step of detailed testwork with Altilium. Resouro is also continuing to explore conventional leaching, a range of other reagents and leaching protocols.
“We are focussed on finding the optimal leaching method that will provide the most environmentally friendly process with high rare earths and TiO2 recoveries at the lowest cost.”
Growing Tiros
With its aim to progress and further grow Tiros, Resouro has completed the due diligence required to finalise the 100% acquisition of three mineral rights contiguous with the Sao Gotardo block of the project.
Eager said of the deal: “With this acquisition of the rights totalling 4744 hectares, we are consolidating our presence in the highly prospective Capacete Formation, securing assets for future development.
“This highly strategic acquisition gives us a greater footprint in a highly prospective area and the contiguous nature of the assets adjacent to Resouro’s Sao Gotardo block could prove highly beneficial in the event of a future discovery.”
This article was developed in collaboration with Resouro Strategic Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
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