Lunnon Metals Limited (ASX: LM8) has commenced a metallurgical test programme underway at Foster, results updated at the Baker deposit and the latest work completed at the Foster nickel mine, part of its Kambalda Nickel Project (KNP) in WA.
As highlighted in the Baker Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS), the outcomes of palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) metallurgical results were pending. Assay results for Pd and Pt have now been received and are consistently high, up to 8.61g/t Pd+Pt. Based on these assay results, the indicative average concentrate grades have increased when compared to the PFS, from 2.35 g/t to 2.51 g/t for Pd and from 0.58 g/t to 0.62 g/t for Pt.
Metallurgical testwork results have also been received for the Warren deposit and updated for the 85H surface at Foster, where an extended flotation test of the previous metallurgical composite was completed.
Results demonstrated that a high quality nickel concentrate can be produced with nickel (Ni) recoveries aligned with past production figures, recording high copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), Pd and Pt credits and low arsenic levels. Summary results for the testwork are as follows.
- Warren – 85.2% nickel recovery to a concentrate grading 12.3% nickel, 6.52 g/t Pd+Pt; and
- Foster 85H – 88.9% nickel recovery to a concentrate grading 11.9% nickel.
Lunnon Metals is now focusing its technical studies on the 57,000 tonnes of nickel metal in Mineral Resource available from the existing workings at the Foster mine,” Managing Director, Ed Ainscough, said.
“Our methodical approach to de-risking and permitting our mineral inventory has served us well at the nearby Baker deposit and we are confident that integrating Foster with the excellent physical and financial results from the recent Baker PFS will open up considerable value and opportunity.
“These testwork results confirm that Foster’s Mineral Resources have the capability to deliver a premium nickel concentrate along with the added bonus of the potential for value to be realised from the palladium and platinum present in the nickel mineralisation across the KNP, both at Baker and Foster.”
