King River Resources Ltd (ASX:KRR) has revealed an update to the Speewah Specialty Metals (SSM) Project PFS after sulphuric acid leach testwork on magnetite concentrate, non-magnetic concentrate fractions and run of mine rock support the potential of a smaller scale project development design.
The new plan would mean alumina is primarily targeted and extracted by leaching rock that has only been mined, crushed and ground to 0.15mm without further beneficiation.
These changes to focus on high purity alumina (HPA), vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), titanium dioxide pigment (TiO2) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) products in a smaller scaled operation may provide a basis for its future scale-up to produce more products in proportion to prices and demand.
HPA extraction methods
Late last year, King River made a breakthrough in extracting aluminium directly from the vanadium, titanium, iron, aluminium and magnesium rich sulphuric acid lead solution as the first precipitation product from which 99.98% aluminium oxide HPA was produced by a new process.
The company is now progressing flowsheet development of its new process to make HPA, and the extraction of the vanadium pentoxide, titanium dioxide pigment, and iron oxide by conventional solvent extraction methods.
HPA test work has focussed on simplifying the process steps to improve aluminium recovery and ensure the lowest level of contaminants.
The drill core samples tested are from a high-grade zone, ground to 0.15 millimetres, leached in 20% sulphuric acid at 70°C and 20, 30% and 35% pulp densities, for 96 hours.
This has enabled King River to select leaching of whole rock magnetite gabbro as the preferred initial design for a small-scale operation that delivers the optimal amount of HPA.
Further leach test work is planned to try to increase the aluminium extraction to greater than 50% by reducing the grind size and extending the leach time.
Director comments
KRR continues to make very positive steps forward towards identifying the most prudent process route and scale for the Speewah Specialty Metals (SSM) Project.
The incorporation of HPA product to Read More – Source
[contf]
[contfnew]
Proactiveinvestors
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
