Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZS) metallurgical test-work program and process design at the Andover and Ridgeline deposits, part of the broader Andover JV Project (60% Azure and 40% Creasy Group) in the West Pilbara of WA, have yielded “excellent” results.
As announced in September, Azure commissioned Strategic Metallurgy Pty Ltd to conduct metallurgical test-work on representative nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation from the Andover deposit.
Ability to process multiple ore sources
Data obtained from this program was used to design a process flowsheet that will produce separate nickel and copper sulphide concentrates.
Once the Ridgeline deposit was discovered, Azure used the same test-work flowsheet and technical specifications for Ridgeline as it had for the Andover deposit, with excellent results.
This confirms the ability to process multiple ore sources from the Andover Project through a single standardised processing plant.
The Ridgeline deposit has returned metallurgical test-work results including:
- separate high-grade nickel concentrate – 13% nickel grade with 80% recovery; and
- copper concentrate – 25.5% copper grade with 77% recovery.
Scoping study-level metallurgical test-work and process design are now complete for the deposits.
Commenting on the test program, Azure managing director Tony Rovira said: “Confirmation that the processing flow sheet developed for the Andover deposit is also suitable for the Ridgeline deposit is a big step in the right direction and augers well for mineralisation discovered at other prospects on the project.
“The metallurgical test-work provides Azure with sufficient technical data and confidence to continue with the scoping study and move the Andover Project towards a development decision.”
What’s next?
The following work is planned for the next phase of the project’s development:
- locked cycle test-work;
- drilling of dedicated metallurgical drill holes through the Andover deposit to obtain representative LOM samples for larger scale bench test-work;
- fine grinding test-work of both nickel and copper concentrates to further improve grades;
- optimisation of cleaner scavenger conditions to improve overall nickel recovery; and
- secondary cleaning test-work in both copper and nickel circuits.
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