JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – An option study, focused on selecting the most appropriate technology to optimise, reduce costs for the planned expansion and reduce start-up issues for the processing plant at Boss Resources’ Honeymoon operation, in South Australia, has brought the company one step closer to a prefeasibility study (PFS).

The preliminary results from the study, undertaken in conjunction with GR Engineering Services and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Antso) initially investigated three core processes, with a fourth process added later.

The first process – the SX option – considered the optimisation and expansion of the current solvent extraction plant in the near term, with an expansion, including the installation of satellite resin plants, in the future, for remote satellite deposits.

The study also looked at the implementation of a combined ion exchange and solvent exchange process – the Eulex option – with the resins upgrading the solutions prior to solvent extraction purification. Expansion will be based on satellite resin plants.

The implementation of an ion exchange only process, the IX option, was also considered.

The Antso testwork focused primarily on selected resins to confirm the selectivity and loading capacity in the presence of high chloride levels and significant iron concentrations.

Both resins tested, the weak based anion (WBA) and the chelating resins, showed positive results, indicating they could be used at the Honeymoon operation. 

A final stage of continuous loading and eluting testwork is ongoing and will confirm the long-term performance of both resins.

Meanwhile, the fourth option – the Hybrid Eulex – was added during the evaluation process and is a modification of the Eulex option. It allows for better use of existing equipment and, hence, potentially reduces up-front capital costs and competitive operational expenditure.

The company selected the Hybrid Eulex option as the preferred option to be carried forward to the next phase of work and developed such that the scope for the PFS can be accurately defined. This option allows the maximum use of the existing plant on site, which can be restarted and brought up to design capacity.   

This option also allows for an early start of the existing facility, while the expansion plant is being built.

Further work will also be done on the IX option to ensure the best technology has been considered for satellite plants.

Boss executive director Grant Davey on Thursday noted that the company was encouraged by the results, adding that, through a combination of resin technology and the use of current processing infrastructure, Boss will be able to expand the operation to optimise the use of its increased resource and reduce operating expenditure.