Hawsons Iron (ASX:HIO) has produced a magnetite concentrate grading 69.3% iron through bulk-scale elutriation test work for its flagship Hawsons Iron Project in New South Wales.
The physical separation process upgraded a concentrate feed grading 67.8% iron while reducing its main impurities.
Silica content fell by about 39%, from 4.04% to 2.48%, while alumina declined by 28%, from 0.40% to 0.29%. Phosphorus also decreased from 0.008% to 0.006%.
The results support the inclusion of elutriation in the project’s Prefeasibility Study process flowsheet, following earlier test work reported in 2015.
Hawsons says the ability to approach 70% iron while maintaining low-impurity levels could improve the concentrate’s appeal to steelmakers seeking greater productivity and lower energy use and emissions intensity.
However, any potential effect on product premiums, revenue, and operating margins remains subject to orebody variability test work and further economic assessment.
Managing Director Tom Revy says the results demonstrate that a relatively straightforward physical separation process can improve concentrate quality using a bulk sample.
“As the steel industry focuses increasingly on productivity, energy efficiency, and reducing emissions, we believe the quality of the iron units entering the steelmaking process will become increasingly important,” Revy says.
“Producing a concentrate approaching 70% Fe [iron], with very low levels of deleterious elements, further strengthens Hawsons’ potential positioning as a long-life supplier of premium magnetite concentrate into a changing global steel industry.”
Elutriation separates magnetite from gangue minerals based on differences in specific gravity. Hawsons says the tested concentrate consists predominantly of discrete magnetite grains, with limited composite grains and gangue material.
The program used bulk magnetite concentrate produced from Hawsons drill core during metallurgical test work undertaken at ALS (ASX:ALQ) Perth in 2025.
Hawsons says it plans to fine-tune the elutriation conditions during the Feasibility Study, including testing operating parameters intended to maximise product quality, recovery, and overall project economics.
The company is also assessing other potential products from the project. In July, Hawsons launched a share purchase plan to raise up to $1.5 million for hematite by-product test work and pelletisation studies.
Hawsons Iron is focused on developing its namesake magnetite project, located 65km southwest of Broken Hill.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Hawsons Iron
