Critical Minerals Group (ASX:CMG) has received ‘encouraging’ metallurgy testing results for vanadium oxide (V2O5) and high-purity alumina (HPA) from the Lindfield Project in Queensland.
The $10.79 million market capitalisation company reports preliminary testing of the upper seam yielded 1.5% V2O5 leach feed grade and 85% leach extraction of vanadium.
Critical Minerals says these results have the potential for further improvement to both grade and recovery through ongoing process optimisation testwork.
In addition, the results demonstrate the potential for further material from the upper seam to be added to the project resource at shallow depth.
Mineralised samples from the Lindfield Project resource were sent to QUT for bench-scale evaluation of the amenability of the material to production of HPA using the Lava Blue HPA production process.
Of the 2 samples evaluated, HPA grades of 3N and 4N were produced on the first attempt, with the potential for further upgrading with minor optimisation.
Critical Minerals Group Managing Director Scott Winter says: “To see such encouraging results in such a short period of time for a seam that is currently not included in the resource is very exciting for the team and the project.
Similarly, from the first test on the alumina mineralised samples, we have produced our target 4N HPA product. To be able to refine to a valuable product grade of HPA via a simple refinement stage is also extremely pleasing in terms of potential future production.
“These results confirm the high standard of resources at the Lindfield Project and give real promise for further upgrading of the mineral resource material…”
These results confirm the high standard of resources at the Lindfield Project and give real promise for further upgrading of the mineral resource material as the process is refined and provides greater confidence as we plan for the pilot scale testing.
The results in the upper seam have allowed us to review and refine the modelling of the resource, which is signifying an upside potential from our recently announced resource. The results are also being included in the Scoping Study currently underway and on track for completion by the end of Q3 2023.”
Critical Minerals notes that planning is well underway for Pre-Feasibility and Pilot Scale Processing studies to be undertaken at the project.
Critical Minerals Group is a vanadium company focused on its flagship Lindfield Project in Queensland, Australia. The company aims to develop and produce mineral deposits that will enhance the global energy transition.
As of 30 June 2023, the company had $2.7 million in cash and cash equivalents at hand, according to its latest quarterly report.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Critical Minerals Group
