Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) has leveraged extensive metallurgical testing on mineralisation from the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project in Malawi, confirming recoveries up to 70% total rare earth oxide (TREO) and concentrate grades ranging from 55% to 68% TREO.
The company says its metallurgical program has furnished it with a strong understanding of feed grade, recovery and concentrate grade relationships, and has completed large and pilot scale classification test-work.
Additionally, Lindian has established optimised working parameters for a multi-gravity concentrator and concentrate grade optimisation works are well advanced.
Results will showcase project’s chops
“We are pleased to again confirm high recoveries and concentrate grades from our extensive metallurgical test-work program which has been ongoing for the past 12 months and is now nearing completion,” Lindian Resources executive chair Asimwe Kabunga said.
“The results are key for defining opex for our pending feasibility study for Stage 1 mine development and will be instrumental in benchmarking Kangankunde’s concentrate grade and recoveries against existing producers.
“We expect the results will showcase Kangankunde’s very robust project economics.”
LIN’s goals in the near-term are to complete:
- Infill drill program assays;
- Indicated resource estimate;
- Mine design and mining schedules;
- Contract awards; and,
- Capital estimates.
“These metallurgical results clearly demonstrate an advanced understanding of input parameters and material variability necessary for Kangankunde’s pending Stage 1 Feasibility Study. We are very encouraged by the results,” Lindian Resources CEO Alistair Stephens said
“We anticipate that we will also report final assay results for the indicated resource definition and complete mine design and mining schedules this month.
“We are very close to the final stages of the construction contract for Kangankunde’s Stage 1 development and we are confident this will confirm Stage 1 as a low-cost start-up operation.”
MAIN IMAGE: Mineralogical Inspection of Kangankunde drill core used in metallurgical test-work.