Explorer and developer Aurora Energy Metals (ASX:1AE) is looking to complete ‘scoping-level’ metallurgical testwork to support a potential Prefeasibility Study (PFS) for its namesake project in Oregon, US.
Aurora has appointed ALS Metallurgy to complete the testwork program, which will focus on beneficiation and leach testwork, as well as optimisation to enable flowsheet development, design, and costing for an Aurora Project Scoping Study.
It is Aurora’s belief that the results generated from this work, which are expected in the December quarter, will inform future decision-making pertaining to PFS- and then Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS)-level testwork programs.
The $12.53 million market capitalisation company reports scrubbing and wet screening have delivered ‘promising’ results, demonstrating the uranium mineralisation at its Aurora Energy Metals Project in Oregon can be upgraded.
This belief is supported by previous tests, which demonstrated up to 30% of the run-of-mine (ROM) feed could be rejected with only a small loss of uranium, therefore ‘significantly’ improving the efficiency and economics of the leach circuit.
Commenting on the testwork program, Aurora’s Managing Director, Greg Cochran, says: “We’re looking forward to working with ALS on this very important testwork program which will enable us to design and price various flowsheet options for the Scoping Study.
“The completion of the Scoping Study itself is at the top of our list of priorities so that we can demonstrate the true potential of this large, well-defined uranium deposit“
The completion of the Scoping Study itself is at the top of our list of priorities so that we can demonstrate the true potential of this large, well-defined uranium deposit. We also recognise the importance of permitting to further de-risk the Aurora Project, and we are working closely with our environmental consultants to finalise the scope of the Exploration Plan of Operations.”
Aurora Energy Metals is an explorer and developer focused on its wholly owned flagship namesake project in southeast Oregon.
The project currently boasts the country’s ‘largest’ mineable measured and indicated uranium deposit, which holds a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 107.3 million tonnes at 214 parts per million triuranium octoxide (U3O8) for 50.6 million pounds U3O8.
Aurora Energy Metals had $3.5 million cash at hand with no debt as of 30 June 2023 following the completion of a $2.7 million placement, according to its latest quarterly report.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Aurora Energy Metals
