Earaheedy met tests give Rumble Resources more reason to cheer

Metallurgical results from Rumble Resources’ Earaheedy zinc-lead-silver project demonstrate recoveries of 79% zinc
Testwork supports a simplified, low cost processing strategy
Internal scoping study will start soon to assess economic viability and marketing opportunities of the bulk high-grade ISP concentrate, with results expected in 2025

Special Report: Excellent results from a comprehensive metallurgical testwork program have given Rumble Resources a major confidence boost in its world-class zinc-lead-silver Earaheedy project.

Results on ore from the key Chinook deposit include a high-grade bulk zinc-lead concentrate with strong recoveries and the information Rumble Resources (ASX:RTR) needs to start an internal scoping study.

Hosting one of the world’s largest zinc sulphide discoveries in the past decade, Earaheedy has a current resource of 94Mt with contained metal of 2.2 million tonnes of zinc, 0.7Mt lead and 12.6Moz silver.

The test work showed recoveries of 79% zinc were achieved into a high-grade 61% zinc-lead marketable bulk concentrate suitable for the Imperial Smelting Process. Importantly, this was done using a coarse primary grind which should lead to significant energy savings in the plant.

Additionally, coarse gangue (waste) rejection tests using innovative HydroFloat technology demonstrated the ability to reject over 30% of barren material early in processing.

This is also expected to result in a reduced plant footprint and operating costs, as well as improved tailings design, while maintaining excellent rougher recoveries of 86% zinc and lead.

In summary, the testwork confirmed the ore is suitable for a simplified and cost-efficient flowsheet that can deliver excellent metal recoveries.

This will in turn support a low capex and opex processing strategy that adapts to variable feed grades, while producing a high-value ISP concentrate.

It also feeds into Earaheedy’s potential to be a low unit cost, open-pit mining project in WA’s well-serviced Goldfields region.

Internal scoping study on way

Rumble will soon start an internal scoping study to assess the economic viability and marketing opportunities of the bulk high-grade ISP concentrate, with results expected in 2025.

Managing director and CEO Peter Harold said: “We are pleased to have completed the comprehensive metallurgical testwork program at Chinook which has generated positive results, including a high-grade bulk zinc-lead concentrate with strong recoveries, and the information necessary to allow us to commence the internal scoping study.

“The application of the HydroFloat technology has confirmed coarse particle rejection is achievable which should lead to capital and operating cost reductions in processing and could lower the cut-off grades, thereby significantly enhancing the project’s economics.

“The HydroFloat technology could also improve the environmental sustainability aspects of Earaheedy through the early separation of barren material and a coarser grind size, potentially allowing for significant reductions in power and water requirements, and better tailings management.

“We are now planning to include HydroFloat in the processing flowsheet for the internal scoping study to maximise the project’s economic value.

“We look forward to progressing Earaheedy through the internal scoping study and then into discussions with potential development partners.”

The news from Earaheedy comes hot on the heels of Rumble signing a game-changing term sheet with Bain Global Resources and MEGA Resources to develop the open pit resources at the Western Queen gold project.

This article was developed in collaboration with Rumble Resources, 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.