Preliminary test work on historical drill core from the Orlando deposit at CuFe’s Tennant Creek copper/gold project is looking promising capital cost-wise, the company says.

The ‘sighter’ testwork showed that oxide floatation delivered copper recovery of 79.8% at a saleable concentrate grade of 34.3% copper.

Transition floatation testing also demonstrated “encouraging” copper recovery of 90.6% with a concentrate grade of 11.2% – with upside anticipated with additional grinding and a floatation cleaning stage.

Essentially, the results show that a standard floatation circuit design could be utilised for oxide, transitional and primary copper mineralised ore sources, which would have positive implications for both the capital and operating costs of a processing plant.

More testwork to follow

“Given the primary objective of this initial work was to test the potential to float a concentrate from the copper oxides, these first pass results are very pleasing,” CuFe (ASX:CUF) MD Mark Hancock said.

“Not only do the testwork results point to the potential to utilise standard flotation for the Orlando copper oxides but the grade of rougher concentrate in this initial test, at 34.3%, was also very encouraging.”

The plan is to complete additional testwork for both copper and gold recoveries, with high-gold recoveries to concentrate for both oxide and transition composites returning a nuggety gold effect.

Drilling results add to core

The company says its RC and Diamond drilling program completed in August will provide additional core for a more comprehensive testwork program.

“There is a strong consensus view amongst commodity forecasters that there will be significant increases in copper supply required to meet the demand growth that will come from global electrification,” Hancock says.

“A project like Orlando, where the ore is planned to be accessed via a cut back to an existing open pit, is one of the simpler projects that can be part of this supply response.

“For this reason the Company will continue to focus on the work streams that are most relevant to the project’s successful development.

“Further metallurgical testwork on the core we have just acquired through our recently completed drilling at Orlando will be a key part of that.”

 

 

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This article was developed in collaboration with CuFe Limited (ASX:CUF), a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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