Bioleaching has significantly increased gold, palladium, and rhodium from BBX Minerals’ first pilot plant test after executing a Product Supply and IP Agreement with EcoBiome.
The pilot plant has achieved a total operational availability rate and has shown proportions of metal much higher than previously reported assays from BBX’s Ema project in Brazil.
During the 72-hour test, the total grade raised by 56 per cent to 0.72g/t, with results consistently increasing every 24 hours; heady returns when compared to BHP leaching at Escondida, which has only improved copper recovery from 22 per cent to 66 per cent over the last 22 years.
A 50kg homogenised composite sample was taken from the drill holes at Ema and reacted with EcoBiome’s proprietary technology to produce the results, and while it is a small sample size, improving recoveries in a short 72 hours is a remarkable result.
Testing was done using different methods at two certified assay labs to obtain both a quick turnaround and a comprehensive suite of elements, with longer-term fire assays returning a combined total of 3.36 g/t palladium and gold.
BBX Chief Executive Andre J Douchane said initial testing of the revised pilot plant from drilling at Ema would address any potential issues before it began conducting tests on the resource hole of its headliner Três Estados project.
“The initial ICP results hold significant importance, as they indicated a notable increase in recovery towards the end of the first pilot plant test,” Mr Douchane said.
Mr Douchane added that pilot plant testing is an iterative learning process that requires time and optimisation of many variables, but the ultimate goal was near.
“The ultimate goal is to have a fully operational pilot plant and equipment for bioassaying the resource drill holes within 30 to 45 days. We have gained tremendous knowledge from the first pilot plant test, and we expect to gain even more insights from the second test,” he said.
Next results
BBX is drilling for rare earth and sending off samples at the Ema project, with an additional piece sent for metallurgical testing. It anticipates initial ICP results by the end of the week, with fire assay results due shortly after.
