Aston Minerals (ASX:ASO) has begun metallurgical work in the hopes of ushering in a Scoping Study at its wholly owned Edleston Nickel Project in Ontario, Canada.
As the $52.29 million market capitalisation company reported earlier this week, nickel-experienced metallurgical laboratory Corem and engineering firm Ausenco have been employed to complete the testwork program, with Ausenco Chief Technology Officer Greg Lane appointed as manager.
Work is scheduled for completion in 7 months’ time, with the Scoping Study expected to be delivered in Q4 2024.
Testwork will focus on key process parameters that define metallurgical recovery and nickel concentrate grade using a lock cycle program. Through this work, Aston hopes to define the technical parameters relating to communication, metal recoveries, and costs.
The company notes these will feed into the operating costs of the Scoping Study.
Over 1.5 tonnes of core has been selected from across the mineralised deposit and shipped to Corem, with nickel recovery and grade results expected to be made available as they come to hand.
Aston also notes this work is supported by initial metallurgical testwork completed in July 2022 that demonstrated that Edleston is a nickel sulphide deposit amenable to industry-standard flotation technology with good nickel-cobalt recoveries and concentrate grades.
Commenting on the start of Scoping Study activities, Aston Minerals Managing Director Russell Bradford says: “The nickel expertise and experience of the Corem team and Ausenco on similar ultramafic nickel orebodies, alongside that of the Aston Minerals’ board and management team, represents an unrivalled body of nickel knowledge.
“Previous testwork on the Edleston nickel suggests that the flowsheet will be a simple mill rougher cleaner flotation circuit”
“Previous testwork on the Edleston nickel suggests that the flowsheet will be a simple mill rougher cleaner flotation circuit”
We have tapped into this to define the metallurgical testwork program for the Edleston Nickel Project. Up to 22 different sample compositions based on grade variation will be assessed to determine the processing requirements and variability in response based on the different grade profiles. Previous testwork on the Edleston nickel suggests that the flowsheet will be a simple mill rougher cleaner flotation circuit.”
Aston Minerals is a development-phase miner advancing its Edleston Project in Ontario.
The project is situated about 60km via road to the south of the city of Timmins, close by to former and current producers.
Aston Minerals launched a placement in July to raise $11 million through the issue of over 180.333 million fully paid ordinary shares.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Aston Minerals
