Coda Minerals (ASX:COD) reports preliminary variability testing has validated its chloride leach flowsheet across different mineral compositions and head grades at the Elizabeth Creek Copper-Silver Project in South Australia.
Selected Emmie Bluff variability composites averaged 94.4% copper (Cu) and 95.9% silver (Ag) extraction from laboratory testing of the whole-ore chloride leach process.
Peak extractions reached 97.2% Cu and 99.7% Ag, consistent with Scoping Study estimates.
Testing with Elizabeth Creek site water returned similar extraction to fresh tap water, with the same composite delivering 95.8% Cu and 93.6% Ag against 95.1% Cu and 92.9% Ag with tap water.
Cobalt (Co) extraction averaged 39.7% across representative samples, reaching 51.7% in the best performer. Published base-case economics exclude cobalt revenue.
CEO Chris Stevens says the results add momentum to Elizabeth Creek.
“High copper and silver extraction across a broader range of samples strengthens our confidence in the preferred chloride leach process, while the encouraging site-water results bring the testing closer to the conditions relevant to the project,” Stevens notes.
“These tests achieved more than 50% cobalt extraction in two samples. That gives us a strong reason to pursue the additional value cobalt could bring. Our focus is now on establishing a practical, economic route to capture that potential.”
The program tested five Emmie Bluff samples and one Windabout sample. Four composites returned 24-hour leach extractions ranging 87–97.2% Cu, 90.8–99.7% Ag, and 21.5–51.7% Co. Notably, the Windabout sample delivered 93.4% Cu.
Coda expects Prefeasibility Study average net metal recovery to remain close to Scoping Study estimates of 94.8% copper and 98.2% silver.
The study continues across resource assessment, geotechnical, groundwater, tailings, environmental, and mine planning workstreams, with Ausenco appointed principal process engineering consultant.
Coda Minerals is an Australian explorer focused on base metals, precious metals, and battery minerals.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Coda Minerals
