Galileo Mining says its wholly-owned Norseman cobalt project will have a big advantage over its cobalt peers as it will use highly efficient, low-cost beneficiation and processing methodology for cobalt extraction.
The company (ASX: GAL) has today outlined the process plant design for the scoping study into Norseman.
The design as well as CAPEX and OPEX cost estimates for the processing plant will be included in the Conceptual Mining Study which is currently being completed by CSA Global.
Previously reported beneficiation and leach test work results have been incorporated into the study with conservative estimates used which provides the opportunity for further improvement as more test results become available.
Galileo Technical Director Noel O’Brien said the Norseman Cobalt Project had important mineralogical features which translate into key project differentiators.
The beneficiation potential of the Norseman Cobalt Project, combined with the proposed low-cost processing methodology, provides Galileo with an advantage over other cobalt developers within Australia,” he said.
“The anticipated processing plant utilises conventional agitated leach tank technology and avoids any issues associated with high cost, High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) plants.”
The Conceptual Mining Study is based on Galileo’s current JORC resources and utilising SGS-Bateman’s processing plant design criteria. The study has identified nickel mineralisation at the Mt Thirsty deposit outside of the current JORC compliant cobalt resource.
Galileo will complete a new JORC estimation of the Mt Thirsty deposit using a suitable nickel cut-off grade which will capture both the nickel and cobalt mineralisation.
