Stand-Out Recovery and Rutile Specifications from Kasiya Bulk Scale (1 Tonne) Metallurgy Program
Sovereign Metals Limited (“the Company” or “Sovereign”) is pleased to report exceptional bulk scale metallurgy test-work results from Kasiya, the Company’s large, high-grade, saprolite-hosted rutile deposit located in Malawi. The results demonstrate the ability to produce a high-grade, premium quality rutile product with a high recovery, via simple, conventional processing methods.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Premium quality rutile specification at 96.3% TiO2 with low impurities
- Excellent overall rutile recovery from bulk feed to product of 98.3%
- Very favourable product sizing at d50 of 145µm
- Simple, conventional process flow sheet
- Initial product marketing commenced: samples to be despatched to major end users, including TiO2 pigment producers
- Maiden Mineral Resource is now targeted for Q4 2020 in order to incorporate additional drill results
Figure 1. Photo-micrograph of Sovereign’s premium rutile concentrate.
Sovereign’s Managing Director Dr Julian Stephens commented:
“To be able to achieve a premium rutile specification with stand-out recovery via simple, conventional “off the shelf” processing methods is a significant milestone for the Kasiya Project and for the Company. This exceptional metallurgical outcome in conjunction with recent spectacular high-grade drilling results consolidates our view that Kasiya could develop into a truly globally significant rutile project.”
ENQUIRIES
Dr Julian Stephens (Perth)
Managing Director
+61(8) 9322 6322
Sam Cordin (Perth)
+61(8) 9322 6322
Sapan Ghai (London)
+44 207 478 3900
OUTSTANDING RUTILE PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Kasiya is the Company’s large, saprolite-hosted, high-grade rutile deposit with a current mineralised footprint of over 7.5km strike with widths up to 3km. The high-grade rutile mineralisation occurs from surface in soft, free-dig saprolite material and remains open in a number of directions. Sovereign plans to report the maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate for Kasiya in Q4 2020 to incorporate additional expansional drill results.
The Company was able to achieve outstanding results from its bulk metallurgy program performed on 1,000kgs of mineralised material extracted from its flagship Kasiya Deposit. On the basis of these premium chemical parameters, rutile produced from Kasiya should be suitable for all major natural end-use markets including TiO2 pigment feedstock, titanium metal and welding flux markets.
Table 1: Comparison of Sovereign’s rutile specifications to leading global producers | ||||||
Constituent |
Malawi Rutile |
Sierra Rutile (Iluka) |
RBM (Rio Tinto) |
Kwale (Base Resources) |
Namakwa Sands (Tronox) |
|
TiO2 |
% |
96.27 |
96.29 |
93.30 |
96.18 |
94.50 |
ZrO2+HfO2 |
% |
0.52 |
0.78 |
1.30 |
0.72 |
1.10 |
SiO2 |
% |
1.18 |
0.62 |
2.00 |
0.94 |
2.00 |
Fe2O3 |
% |
0.59 |
0.38 |
0.70 |
1.25 |
0.8 |
Al2O3 |
% |
0.41 |
0.31 |
0.90 |
0.23 |
0.6 |
Cr2O3 |
% |
0.12 |
0.19 |
0.11 |
0.17 |
0.14 |
V2O5 |
% |
0.66 |
0.58 |
0.40 |
0.52 |
0.33 |
Nb2O5 |
% |
0.39 |
0.15 |
0.30 |
- |
0.04 |
P2O5 |
% |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.03 |
0 |
0.02 |
MnO |
% |
0.01 |
0.01 |
- |
0.03 |
0.4 |
MgO |
% |
0.02 |
0.01 |
- |
0.1 |
0.01 |
CaO |
|
0.01 |
0.01 |
- |
0.04 |
0.04 |
S |
% |
0.01 |
<0.01 |
<0.05 |
- |
0.01 |
U+Th |
ppm |
39 |
26 |
100 |
- |
- |
d50 sizing |
µm |
145 |
- |
124 |
- |
124 |
“Iluka” is Iluka Resources Limited; “Rio Tinto” is Rio Tinto plc; “Base Resources” is Base Resources Limited; “Tronox” is Tronox Holdings plc. “-“ is not disclosed. Sources: RBM data from World Titanium Resources Ltd TZMI Conference Presentation November 2011 (Updated January 2012); Sierra Rutile, Kwale and Namakwa Sands data from BGR Assessment Manual titled “Heavy Minerals of Economic Importance” 2010. |
The full rutile particle size distribution from the Kasiya bulk metallurgy test-work based on QEMSCAN is shown in Figure 2 and 3 below. A d50 sizing of 145µm is recognised as world-class and suggests the product should be suitable for all major end use markets.
It is recognised that +75µm is typically preferred by pigment producers, the largest consumer of natural rutile. Products incorporating the -75µm fraction would target other end use markets or be used for blending into TiO2 pigment feed-stock. A full market assessment of various rutile product specifications for a range of end-use markets is planned as part of Sovereign’s upcoming Scoping Study.
Figure 2. Bar graph showing size distribution of Sovereign’s premium rutile product from Kasiya.
Figure 3. QEMSCAN image of Sovereign’s premium rutile product from Kasiya.
BULK SAMPLE METALLURGICAL TESTWORK PROGRAM
The test work program was conducted at globally recognised laboratory, Allied Mineral Laboratories (AML) in Perth, Australia.
A mineralised sample of approximately 1,000kg was composited from a number of drill holes across the Kasiya deposit. The sample had a head grade of 0.96% recoverable rutile. The test-work focussed on producing a single heavy mineral product, rutile, however, visual observations and analysis of data indicate that graphite could be a potential by-product. Work is ongoing to establish whether a coarse-flake graphite product can be recovered.
The material was processed through a traditional mineral sands flowsheet, consisting of:
- Screening and sizing
- Desliming
- UCC (up-current classifier) and wet concentration via gravity spirals
- Attritioning; and
- Mineral separation including electrostatic and magnetic methods
Figure 4. Simplified flowsheet developed for the Kasiya bulk metallurgy program.
Figure 5 & 6. Left: Trommel screen processing the raw material &
Right: +2mm oversize material
Figure 7 & 8. Left: Gravity spirals set-up for the processing of the deslimed and screen material &
Right: Close-up of the gravity spiral in the early phases of the process
Please follow the link to view entire original press release in English language:
https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20200909/pdf/44mgf1ql1tpdkf.pdf
Competent Persons’ Statements
The information in this report that relates to Metallurgical Test work Results is based on information compiled by Mr Gavin Diener, a Competent Person who is a member of the AusIMM. Mr Diener is a Director of Allied Mineral Laboratories Pty Ltd (AML), an independent mineral sands laboratory and is not a holder of any equity type in Sovereign Metals Limited. Mr Diener has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Mr Diener consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results and QEMSCAN Results are based on information compiled by Dr Julian Stephens, a Competent Person who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Dr Stephens is the Managing Director of Sovereign Metals Limited and a holder of ordinary shares and unlisted options in Sovereign Metals Limited. Dr Stephens has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Dr Stephens consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
Forward Looking Statement
This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans", and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on Sovereign’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Sovereign, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Sovereign makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release.
This ASX Announcement has been approved and authorised for release by the Company’s Managing Director, Julian Stephens.
