Hawsons Iron (ASX:HIO) is furthering its metallurgical testwork stream after completing the first phase of the CSIRO research project at its namesake project in Broken Hill, New South Wales.
The first phase indicated that hematite and quartz dominated the tailings samples, returning a magnetite level of 1% or less in samples through x-ray diffraction.
Magnetite was recovered at a higher rate in earlier stages of process separation.
The company says there’s potential to swap out phosphorus for an upgraded hematite concentrate, after finding phosphorus existing as phosphate minerals using electron probe microanalysis.
Hawsons intends to determine the most appropriate method for phosphorus and quartz minerals rejection without affecting hematite levels through flotation or similar methods.
CEO Tom Revy says results returned from this testwork will not be included in ongoing Prefeasibility Study (PFS) as it intends to focus on the prospectivity of magnetite production.
“The results of this test work have not only confirmed the company’s earlier assessments on tailings mineralogy, but have provided Hawsons sufficient confidence to progress further investigations into the potential economic recovery of hematite as a byproduct from the tailings stream,” Revy says.
“The Hawsons Iron Project PFS is still planned to be completed by year end.”
As reported by Mining.com.au, the research project with CSIRO is being funded by the Kick-Star Program.
Hawsons Iron is focused on advancing green steel production to meet the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Hawsons Iron
