QMines Ltd (ASX:QML) has confirmed “outstanding” recovery and environmental outcomes in the final metallurgical test-work for its flagship Mt Chalmers Copper-Gold Project near Rockhampton in central Queensland.
The combined flotation and leaching tests achieved recoveries of 99.7% copper, 88.6% gold, 97.5% lead, 97.5% zinc and 97.9% silver, results the company described as industry-leading.
Significantly, they show that it is technically viable to produce saleable copper and zinc concentrates from the deposit, with gold and silver credits.
With the test-work now completed, QMines will progress a planned pre-feasibility study (PFS) on Mt Chalmers and deliver a maiden ore reserve statement.
Flotation tailings leach results.
Positive environmental benefits
Como Engineers supervised the tests aimed at defining a metallurgical strategy for the recovery of copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc from Mt Chalmers, a near-surface copper-gold-silver deposit with low quantities of zinc and lead.
QMines’ mining strategy for the project is an open pit, followed by a potential underground operation late in the life of mine.
The company remains one of only three ASX-listed resources companies that is certified carbon neutral under Australia's rigorous Climate Active Certification.
This is because a key part of the company's growth strategy is to develop its assets in a sustainable way, and the test-work has demonstrated that Mt Chalmers can deliver critical minerals for the green energy industry sustainably.
Among the positive environmental outcomes are:
- A simple floatation option provides potential for cyanide-free processing whilst reducing capex;
- The establishment of a pyrite concentrate significantly reduces acid-forming minerals in tailings;
- The use of a coarser grind size (105um) significantly reduces power consumption, carbon footprint and opex; and
- The re-use of pit water for processing significantly reduces water usage and discharge from the mine site.
Copper concentrate test-work.
“Very pleased”
QMines managing director Andrew Sparke said: “We are very pleased with these metallurgical results from Mt Chalmers.
“This work demonstrates high recoveries of all target metals from a simple flotation process.
“We are equally pleased with the strong environmental outcomes this work achieves.
“The potential for cyanide-free processing, re-use of pit water and a reduction in power consumption due to coarser grind size all add to the company’s strong environmental focus and credentials.
“QMines is now optimising the flow sheet and plant design for Mt Chalmers for inclusion in a pre-feasibility study due out in Q4 2023.”
Next up
In the coming months, QMines’ work at Mt Chalmers will comprise:
- Completing resource and infill drilling program at the West Pit;
- Delivering stage two of the Mt Chalmers pit optimisation with improved metallurgical recoveries that also incorporates an underground optimisation study;
- Delivering the final results of the regional EM survey and IP inversions analysis identifying multiple ground-truthed priority EM targets;
- Commencing drilling operations at priority EM targets with the potential to make new VHMS discoveries; and
- Delivering the planned Mt Chalmers PFS.
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