Copper 360 CEO Jan Nelson
Photo by: Creamer Media's Donna Slater
JSE-listed Copper 360 says metallurgical test results have confirmed high copper recovery and concentrate grades from drill core samples from the Rietberg copper mine, in the Northern Cape.
Copper recovery above 90% was achieved at particle size 80% passing 75 micron.
The concentrate grade was greater than 48% after one cleaning step, compared with a norm of 25%, the company points out.
The test results have exceeded the company’s expectations with the net result being that more copper with less energy (and less concentrate mass per higher copper concentration) will be recovered, which will directly impact the bottom line of the new processing plant being built in a very positive way, Copper 360 points out.
Copper 360, which is led by CEO Jan Nelson, contracted SGS Metallurgy and Mineralogy Division, South Africa to conduct test work on a representative sample of the Rietberg orebody.
Variability test work is currently under way at SGS.
The SGS results confirmed historical data indicating high recoveries and high concentrate grades from the Namaqualand Copperbelt ores.
The flotation is expected to be robust and reagent selection will be based on reagent availability, price and ease of handling.
Copper 360 is contracting Tailing Technology to supply the flotation cells and mechanisms.
Copper 360's share price on the JSE rose by 13.67% following the release of the metallurgical test results on July 4. Shares were trading at R4.49 apiece by 10:50 on July 4, compared with R3.95 apiece at the close of business on July 3.