Heavy Minerals Limited (ASX:HVY) has received positive metallurgy results for the Port Gregory Garnet Project in Western Australia from IHC Mining.
The results highlight that the potential products produced could be marketed as 30/60 mesh and 80 mesh blasting grade products and 80 mesh and 120 mesh water jet cutting products.
Highlights:
The following key products were produced:
- High grade garnet concentrate product containing 98.3% garnet
- Potential primary ilmenite product containing 53.8% TiO2 which was readily upgraded from magnetic concentrate
A coarse and fine garnet stream can be produced which has the potential to generate a blasting grade product and a water jet cutting grade product being:
- Coarse garnet product D50 and D80 of 418 µm and 490 µm containing 99% garnet
- Fine garnet product D50 and D80 of 220 µm and 277 µm containing 98% garnet
Head feed Garnet recovery is 87.0%. Further work is planned to increase the recovery rate
The ilmenite stream has the potential to also add revenue to the project as a valuable by-product IHC Mining were quoted as saying: “Metallurgical scoping test work completed confirms the Port Gregory material processes readily using typical physical separation methodologies and standard equipment. The produced combined garnet product is high grade and is determined to contain 98.3% garnet. The magnetic concentrate was readily upgraded to a potential ilmenite product containing 53.8% TiO2 and low levels of contaminants.”
HVY’s Port Gregory garnet project is our flagship asset and these results highlight why HVY has rapidly progressed the project. A large resource with readily marketable products, bodes well for the upcoming scoping study which is due for imminent release. The Board is extremely excited about the prospects for Port Gregory and the potential to bring it into production,” Executive Director and CEO, Nic Matich, said.
Metallurgical Testing Overview
IHC Mining recently completed scoping study level metallurgical and process development test work on a bulk sample from HVY’s Port Gregory garnet project. Scoping study level metallurgical test work was completed, resulting in:
Evaluation of material processability
- Development of a conceptual metallurgical process
- Testwork metallurgical balances including mass yields, grades, and recoveries
- Generation of potential products i Identification of any potential metallurgical risks and opportunities
- Recommendations for progressing the project to the next phase of feasibility Follow-up QEMSCAN analysis to determine garnet mineral liberation characteristics to assist with recovery optimisation is planned.
- Following the outcomes of the Scoping Study and Preliminary Economic Analysis (PEA), HVY will determine further bulk sampling testwork required to develop samples for potential “offtakers”.
