Grid Metals Reports Increased Nickel Cobalt Recovery to Bulk Concentrate in Mayville Testwork
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 8, 2019 / Grid Metals Corp. (TSX-V: GRDM | USOTC: MSMGF) ("Grid" or "the Company") today provided an update on the metallurgical test work on samples from its Mayville Deposit located in southeastern Manitoba, Canada. The laboratory flotation testwork program was focused on determining whether a satisfactory bulk flotation concentrate could be produced which subsequently could be taken to copper/nickel separation in order to produce marketable concentrate products (Ni>10%; Cu>25%). Based on positive current test results the next phase of testwork has been commenced.
Summary of Results
A medium grade Mayville sample, selected by Grid Metals, grading 0.48% Cu; 0.24% Ni, 0.02% cobalt was subjected to a laboratory scale flotation program of rougher and cleaner flotation. The best performing bulk concentrate achieved (Float 7), contained a copper/nickel grade of 23% with a cobalt grade of 0.40%. The mineralogical composition was 19% pentlandite, 47% chalcopyrite, 22% pyrrhotite and 13% non-sulphide gangue.
Recoveries to the bulk concentrate were nickel 69.8%, copper 90.1%, cobalt 51.7% and palladium 64.2%.
The iron-S/Pn ratio was reduced from 11:1 in the feed to 1.34:1 in the concentrate, which is at a level considered acceptable for a bulk concentrate.
Preliminary precious metals analysis suggest precious metals (palladium - platinum - gold) are being upgraded and recovered.
The mineralogical character of the bulk concentrates produced from the sample are considered favourable for making marketable nickel and copper concentrates.
Discussion
In the 2014 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA")* for the Makwa Mayville Project nickel recovery for the Mayville deposit was an average of 41%. As such, improving nickel recovery from Mayville and demonstrating the potential for a quality marketable nickel concentrate was an important recommendation of the PEA. There are ~105 million pounds of nickel in the Indicated category and 20 million pounds of nickel in the Inferred category in the current resource at Mayville (see table below).
Mineralogical work has shown the cobalt is associated with pentlandite which is the recoverable mineral containing nickel. A certain level of pay-ability from smelters for cobalt as such may be anticipated provided marketable nickel concentrates can be produced.
While the focus of the current testwork program is nickel the report concludes that the precious metals are being upgraded and recovered.
Next Phase of Metallurgical Testwork
The next phase of metallurgical testwork on Mayville ore samples has now commenced. The program will be completed on a fresh Mayville composite sample. The program will be designed to
Confirm the flotation and bulk concentrate results previously achieved in Mayville ore testwork
Complete open cycle copper and nickel separation
Complete diagnostic mineralogy on the nickel and copper products produced.
Ian Ward P.Eng is overseeing the metallurgical program as a consultant to the Company and is a Qualified Person for NI 43-101 purposes and has approved the scientific and technical information in this release. The test program is being conducted under contract with XPS Expert Process Solutions, a Glencore Company, a Sudbury-based technical consultancy and testing firm. XPS has extensive experience in flowsheet development and nickel-copper-cobalt ores.
Makwa Mayville Resource ( RPA - November 2013)
Category and Deposit | Tonnes | Ni | Cu | Pt | Pd | Au | Co |
Indicated | |||||||
Makwa | 7.2 | 0.61 | 0.13 | 0.1 | 0.36 | N/A | 0.01 |
Mayville | 26.6 | 0.18 | 0.44 | 0.05 | 0.14 | 0.05 | N/A |
Total Indicated | 33.8 | 0.27 | 0.37 | 0.06 | 0.19 | N/A | N/A |
Inferred | |||||||
Makwa | 0.7 | 0.27 | 0.08 | 0.05 | 0.14 | N/A | 0.02 |
Mayville | 5.2 | 0.19 | 0.48 | 0.06 | 0.15 | 0.04 | N/A |
Total Inferred | 5.8 | 0.19 | 0.43 | 0.06 | 0.15 | N/A | N/A |
Note: Resources which are not reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
* The PEA ( RPA April 2014 ) completed by the Company is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized.
About Grid Metals Corp.
Grid is focused on its Makwa Mayville Project a sulphide nickel copper cobalt PGE project located in southeastern Manitoba. The Company is positioned to benefit from the growing demand for metals used in batteries used to power electric vehicles. In particular demand for nickel is expected to grow strongly in the next five years. Grid also has exposure to lithium through its Mayville Lithium property which has a historical resource and to palladium through its exploration stage East Bull Lake Property near Sudbury Ontario.
To find out more about Grid Metals, please visit our website at www.gridmetalscorp.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Grid Metals Corp.
Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director |
|
We seek safe harbour.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario) (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements may include the Company's plans for its properties, the overall economic potential of its properties, the availability of adequate financing and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to potential political risk, uncertainty of production and capital costs estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, physical risks inherent in mining operations, metallurgical risk, currency fluctuations, fluctuations in the price of nickel, cobalt, copper and other metals, completion of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis, and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the most recent financial period and Material Change Reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
SOURCE: Grid Metals Corp.
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