TSX-listed Meridian Mining has reported that its smelter tests have delivered high-grade and high-quality blister copper, highlighting that the laboratory-scale smelting and converting tests resulted in 98.9% copper purity, with precious metals at 95.2 g/t and silver at 387.6 g/t.

Meridian also notes that the impurity levels of blister copper recovered from the Cabaçal copper/gold/silver project, in Brazil, assayed better than industry averages for high-quality anode copper, and that the high copper grades, significant gold and silver credits and lack of impurities in Cabaçal’s copper concentrates are expected to make them highly sought after by global copper smelters.

The company notes that the blister copper was produced from a concentrate sample produced from its Cabaçal project and was processed in laboratory-scale smelting and converting tests at the Kingston Process Metallurgy in Ontario, Canada.

“These results take the marketability and value of Cabaçal’s copper concentrates to the next level – a tremendous confirmation of the product. Cabaçal’s definitive feasibility study (DFS) is advancing towards completion and project finance preparation is well advanced.

“We are positioning Cabaçal to deliver one of the most sought-after high-grade, clean copper concentrates in the market with high gold and silver payable credits, exceptionally low impurities and the sulphur content required for acid production.

“This is a strong negotiating position as we move into offtake discussions for a copper/gold mine that will go for over ten years and a belt that could potentially be in production for decades to come,” comments Meridian CEO Gilbert Clark.

As part of the Cabaçal DFS programme, the company has completed laboratory-scale smelter testwork on copper sulphide concentrates containing gold and silver using run-of-mine-grade ore samples.

Meridian highlights that the test demonstrated that the project's low-impurity copper/gold/silver sulphide concentrates can be processed into high-grade blister copper, with results confirming the concentrates' favourable smelting characteristics and ability to produce high-purity copper anodes.

The company adds that, under a more likely commercial scenario, the concentrates could be used as a premium blending feedstock to improve the quality of lower-grade third-party copper concentrates and enhance overall smelter performance.

Meanwhile, Clark adds that Cabaçal’s future copper concentrates are expected to generate strong interest from smelter groups and trading houses seeking to secure high-quality, long-term supply.

Discussions are ongoing between Meridian Mining and a range of potential offtakers for Cabaçal’s copper concentrate supply.