New metallurgical test work results from Caravel Minerals’ namesake copper project in the Wheatbelt region of WA, show excellent recoveries of the red metal averaging 96.1% from a relatively coarse grind size of 106 microns.
The results eclipse the previous 92% recovery used in the 2016 scoping study for the project.
Importantly, copper recoveries also averaged 95.8% for the coarser grind size of 150 microns and demonstrated the potential for the copper project to operate at a low cost and hence, a lower cut-off grade for the ore feed.
There is also a rapid recovery of the copper into solution by conventional flotation methods, with an average of 92% of the metal recovered in the first four minutes, which implies a very low reagent uptake and by extension, low costs of recovery for the Caravel ores.
The metallurgical test work was undertaken on drill core ore composites from the flagship Bindi deposits, which represent nearly 60% of the projects’ mineral resource of 366 million tonnes grading 0.35% copper.
The previous test work indicating average copper recoveries nearer 92%, were undertaken on samples of RC drilling chips.
According to the company, a simple, quick and low-cost ore processing route from the Caravel deposits is the fundamental factor for the successful development of the project’s huge resource base.
The new metallurgical results will now feed into the company’s updated scoping study report, which is due for release next month.
Caravel is on a roll at present, only last week reporting a 46% increase in the resources at the project, conveniently located just northeast of Perth.
A significant inventory exceeding 1.28 million tonnes at a 0.25% copper cut-off grade sets the Caravel project well on track to becoming Western Australia’s next large-scale, long-life, low-cost copper mining operation.
Caravel is currently completing further RC drilling on-site testing for resource extensions, with assay results expected later this month.
By Matt Birney
