Green Critical Minerals (ASX:GCM) has begun ore sorting pre-concentration testwork at the ‘ultra-high purity’ McIntosh Graphite Project in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The company, which holds earn-in rights for up to 80% of the McIntosh Graphite Project, has identified pre-concentration technology as a potential key tool in reducing the overall carbon footprint of any future mining operation at McIntosh.
For the ore sorting pre-concentration testwork, the company is working with ore sorting provider, TOMRA. Green Critical Minerals states the technology can separate ‘high-grade’ ore from waste before it enters the processing plant.
Preliminary testwork on the utilisation of ore sorting technology was undertaken on core samples from the McIntosh graphite deposit back in April 2017.
The initial results were ‘positive’ and suggested waste interbedding within the graphitic host unit could effectively be identified and removed via ore sorting technology.
Commenting on the ore sorting testwork, Green Critical Minerals Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Lynch-Staunton says: “The results of the ore sorting pre-concentration testwork will provide GCM with valuable information on the potential benefits of this technology and how it could be integrated into its operations.
GCM believes that pre-concentration technology can potentially have a significant impact on the sustainability and profitability of any future mining operation at McIntosh.
“The company will continue to explore new technologies and best practices to reduce its environmental footprint and ensure the long-term sustainability of any future operation”
The company will continue to explore new technologies and best practices to reduce its environmental footprint and ensure the long-term sustainability of any future operation.”
Green Critical Minerals reports it will be completing a petrographic analysis from exploration targets to establish flake size, reporting preliminary ore sorting results, conducting a heritage survey over proposed exploration areas, as well as beginning a maiden drill program.
The company also reports it will report metallurgical testwork results, start battery anode qualification testwork, complete the process plant design, deliver a downstream scoping study, and deliver an updated Prefeasibility Study (PFS) for McIntosh.
Green Critical Minerals is an Australian-based mineral exploration and development company, particularly engaging in mineral properties in Australia and Canada.
Its portfolio of assets include the North Barkley Rare Earths, and Hawkwood Nickel-Copper-PGE projects in Queensland, as well as the Torrington Tungsten-Topaz project on the New South Wales/Queensland border.
The company also holds earn-in rights for 80% of the McIntosh Graphite Project in Western Australia, and a 40% interest in private company Red Fox Resources, which in turn holds 2 tenements in the Mt Isa/Cloncurry region of Queensland.
Images: Green Critical Minerals Ltd & iStock
