Duketon Mining (ASX:DKM) has received positive metallurgical testwork results on a composite of fresh mineralisation from the C2 Nickel Project in Western Australia.
Highlights:
- C2 ore responds well to conventional flotation and produces a saleable concentrate
- Nickel recovery was as high as 77.3% to a saleable grade concentrate during open circuit batch flotation testwork.
- Low levels of deleterious elements in concentrate (no smelter penalties)
- Copper and cobalt were recovered and will contribute concentrate by-product credits.
The testwork demonstrated an ability to produce concentrate grades ranging from 11-18% Ni and an Fe:MgO of between 12-20:1 using typical flotation reagents.
Interpolation of the nickel recovery at a concentrate grade of 13% was 65.5% and it is anticipated that with further metallurgical work, the recovery can be improved.
This result compliments the positive metallurgical testwork results received for Rosie.
Further work will target improved nickel recovery via optimisation of flotation conditions and closing the flowsheet to recover nickel from intermediate concentrate streams.
The positive result in these tests allow DKM to move forward with infill drilling the C2 deposit to an indicated status so it can be used for scoping study level assessment and extending the resource along strike and down dip.
C2 contains 5.7 million tonnes at 0.7% nickel, 0.04% copper and 0.14g/t platinum and palladium for a contained 38,000 tonnes of nickel, 2,370 tonnes of copper and 26,000 oz of platinum and palladium at 0.5% nickel cut-off.
What a great result. 13% Ni in concentrate and a highly attractive Fe:MgO ratio of between 12-20:1,” Managing Director, Stuart Fogarty, said.
“The simplicity of the flowsheet and the metallurgical processes invoked at C2 to produce a saleable concentrate is a testimony to the quality of C2. These results in conjunction with the previous results from Rosie prove that there is an effective metallurgical pathway for the successful extraction of both deposits and fundamentally underpins the criteria for an operation.
“This allows DKM to drill out the inferred resource at C2 with the intention of converting it into an indicated resource and growing it through extensions beyond the current 38,000 nickel tonne resource.”
The test work was completed by Strategic Metallurgy Pty Ltd, recognised as leading consultants in nickel sulphide metallurgy. The primary objective of this test work was to assess nickel flotation response for C2 and determine the recovery to a saleable grade (>10%Ni) concentrate.
Assessment of concentrate quality, including Fe:MgO ratio and other deleterious elements was also included. The C2 composite was prepared from select drill core intervals that represent the known resource zones.
The core samples were all from the hole DKDD0030 between 205m – 235m with sample IDs DKM38779 – DKM38813. The nickel assay of all intervals ranged between 0.6% Ni – 2.5% Ni and formed the composite with a grade of 1.07% Ni. These tests confirm that C2 ore responds well to conventional flotation and produces a saleable concentrate. Open circuit recovery is as high as 77.3% to a saleable concentrate with nickel grades ranging from 11%-18% Ni and an Fe:MgO of between 12-20:1.
It is anticipated with further metallurgical work the recovery can be improved without compromising any of the key elements. Platinum and palladium were recovered into the concentrate however are not present at high enough levels to warrant credits. Low levels of deleterious elements were detected in concentrate but are not expected to incur any penalties.
Copper and cobalt are present in levels expected to receive concentrate by-product credits.
The positive result in these tests allow DKM to move forward with infill drilling the C2 deposit to an indicated status so it can be used for scoping study level assessment and extending the resource along strike and down dip.
C2 contains 5.7 million tonnes at 0.7% nickel, 0.04% copper and 0.14g/t platinum and palladium for a contained 38,000 tonnes of nickel, 2,370 tonnes of copper and 26,000 oz of platinum and palladium at 0.5% nickel cut-off.
