Golden Mile Resources completes Stage 3 metallurgical test work at Quicksilver project
Work outlines initial process beneficiation flowsheet targeting 75% nickel recoveries
Process will generate four concentrates
Gold also reports to the gravity concentrate
Special Report: Golden Mile Resources has completed Stage 3 metallurgical test work that outlines an initial process beneficiation flowsheet with the potential to target 75% nickel recovery from its flagship Quicksilver nickel-cobalt project near Lake Grace, WA.
Quicksilver is an oxide clay-hosted deposit with a resource of 26.3Mt grading 0.64% nickel and 0.04% cobalt along with valuable by-products gold, rare earths and scandium.
Previous metallurgical test work by Golden Mile Resources (ASX:G88) had improved its understanding of the unique mineralisation and demonstrated the potential to develop a low energy, multi-product beneficiation process.
This led to the identification of a customised multi-products flowsheet to produce nickel-cobalt and iron-nickel-cobalt-chromium concentrates, as well as industrial products.
Additionally, this work found nickel within a chromium-magnetite, paving the way for testing large magnetic targets along strike of the resource.
Recent drilling has also improved the company’s understanding of Quicksilver mineralisation, highlighting the potential of the mica and cobalt rich domains within the resource.
Concept beneficiation flowsheet for Quicksilver. Pic: Golden Mile Resources
Four concentrate products
The successful development of the initial process beneficiation flowsheet concept, which includes crushing, scrubbing, screening, regrinding, magnetic and gravity separation processes, confirms that development of Quicksilver is likely to require low capital and operational expenditure.
It demonstrates the potential for the flowsheet to target 75% nickel recovery within four concentrates:
A high-grade nickel in mica concentrate;
A low silica, magnetic nickel, iron and chromium concentrate;
A fine-grained nickel concentrate; and
A cobalt, nickel, and manganese gravity concentrate with nickel to cobalt ratios ranging from 1.9 to 5.4.
The four concentrate types. Pic: Golden Mile Resources
Adding value, the process returned gold grades of 0.1-2.3g/t in the gravity concentrate.
G88 also noted that three of the four concentrates could be enhanced further through secondary processing options.
“The flowsheet supports a mechanical, low capital expenditure, low energy operation and demonstrates the value of this testwork program,” managing director Damon Dormer said.
“We have completed multiple major work packages and significantly improved our understanding of Quicksilver over the last 14 months. This includes the diamond and reverse circulation drilling, as well as the completion of the Stage 3 Metallurgical testwork program.
“Through the course of this work we have uncovered the additional cobalt potential, the significance of the high-grade bearing mica as well as discovering the return of gold in the gravity concentrates.
“Having the potential to achieve a 75% recovery of nickel into concentrates is an exceptional outcome from the testwork to date. We will be investigating the secondary processing of these concentrates to further enhance the project.
“The flowsheet will form the basis of our internal economic model in which we will run a multitude of scenarios to prioritise the strategic work programmes at Quicksilver.”
Next steps
G88 is now conducting an internal economic assessment of the project based on the concept flowsheet and has identified future metallurgical and other work packages for input into formal studies.
These include lab scale testing of the concept flowsheet on a master blend of drill core material, design, and consideration of downstream testwork programs, and preliminary market assessment of the four potential concentrates.
The company will also progress with market investigations and pricing enquiries for each of the four potential concentrates.
This article was developed in collaboration with Golden Mile Resources, 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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