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JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Following the successful completion of metallurgical testwork that eliminated certain grinding and thickening infrastructure from the initial process design, Sydney-listed South Boulder Mines has finalised the feasibility study processing plant design for the Colluli potash project in Eritrea.
Potassium yields in excess of 80% had been achieved from the testwork to date, with overall recovery further enhanced by the capture and processing of brines through a series of recovery ponds.
The precipitated potassium salts created in these ponds would be reclaimed and combined with the processing plant feed streams.
“Importantly, the improved capital and operating costs, combined with improved yields, are expected to have a material positive economic impact,” the company said in a statement on Monday.
MD Paul Donaldson added that the most encouraging aspect of the Colluli development path was that the company was able to lower its cost base to produce a product that offered a “substantial” price premium.
“We are extremely happy with the progress the project team has made on the processing plant design and testwork. The simplicity of the process, the use of all potassium-bearing salts, the highly favourable yields and the robustness of the mine plan are positioning the project for an exciting future,” he commented.
South Boulder was now looking to complete the preliminary feasibility study and was in the process of collecting samples to provide feed material to pilot a number of elements of the process.