Cannindah Resources (ASX:CAE) reports NovaCell coarse particle flotation (CPF) test work has achieved 94% copper (Cu) and 92% silver (Ag) recovery at its Mt Cannindah Project in Queensland.
The test work rejected 82% of processed material at an 18% mass pull and a target coarse grind size of approximately P80 450 microns, highlighting the potential for reduced downstream processing requirements.
Managing Director Cameron Switzer says the results were achieved at a substantially coarser grind size than conventional flotation.
“These are encouraging initial metallurgical results for the Cannindah Breccia, with NovaCell coarse particle flotation achieving 94% copper and 92% silver recovery while rejecting 82% of the material,” Switzer notes.
“This potentially has significant implications for the future development of Mt Cannindah through higher throughput, lower energy requirements, a reduced plant footprint, and improved tailings management.”
The NovaCell test work delivered 68% gold (Au) recovery, although the company notes that this figure and comparable conventional results are subject to assay issues due to the spotty nature of the gold in the composite sample. Further test work is planned, particularly to improve gold recovery.
Conventional flotation test work confirmed the Cannindah Breccia can produce a saleable copper concentrate with low penalty elements.
Copper grades reached 32.5% by switching the cleaner-stage collector to DSP-052 and regrinding to a P80 of 20 microns. The adopted final conditions returned 25% Cu at 83.7% recovery with two cleaning stages, or 18.3% Cu at 89.8% recovery with one.
The results support conservative recoveries of 90% Cu, 65% Au, and 80% Ag for incorporation into the updated mineral resource estimate (MRE), targeted for completion by the end of September 2026.
Composite samples were collected from six diamond drill holes, building on test work announced in November 2023. Mt Cannindah sits 90km southwest of Gladstone and hosts an MRE of 14.5 million tonnes at 1.09% copper equivalent, released in July 2024.
Cannindah Resources is an Australian explorer advancing a portfolio of copper-gold and base metal assets.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Cannindah Resources
